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Ole Miss advances to first Women's College World Series

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby: Brady Vernon05/25/25BradyVernon
Screenshot 2025-05-25 at 4.55.06 PM
Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

When you’re hot, you’re hot. Ole Miss, the last unseeded team standing, knocked off Arkansas 7-4 to book their first trip to the Women’s College World Series.

Ole Miss took advantage of a disastrous start from Arkansas. The Razorbacks went back to Saturday starter Payton Burnham after her complete game shutout. Although the Rebels didn’t wait long to put a run up on the scoreboard on Sunday. Lair Beautae hit a two-run homer after a leadoff walk.

The Rebels kept the pressure on. Aliyah Binford doubled and moved over to third on a two-out single from Lexie Brady. Arkansas catcher Kennedy Miller had Binford dead to rights on a fake throw when Brady stole second, but Binford was able to score on the rundown after a missed tag. On the next pitch, Brady then scored on the throwback to Burnham, who threw it over Kennedy’s head leading to the fourth run of the inning.

Arkansas scratched one across in the first after Ole Miss starter Bri Lopez walked four batters. Back-to-back singles and a walk of Bri Ellis loaded the bases for Courtney Day. Day smashed a single through the left side to trim the Ole Miss lead down to one. Kailey Wyckoff hit an infield single to tie the game. The Razorbacks ended up leaving the bases loaded for the second straight inning, which proved costly.

After a single and a walk to start the fourth, Ole Miss popped up a would-be sacrifice bunt. In the next at-bat, Taylor Roman hit a slow roller to Arkansas shortstop Atalyia Rijo, who couldn’t get the out at second and everyone was safe. The go-ahead run scored in the next at-bat on a sacrifice fly. Makenzie Pickens singled in another run in the fifth and Brady hit a solo shot in the seventh.

Binford, who transferred from Baylor in the fall, was magnificent in relief. She went 5.2, allowing one run on two hits and striking out four batters. She retired 16 of the last 17 batters she faced to end the game and head to Oklahoma City.

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