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SportsCenter Top 10? Ashton Lansdell puts on a show as Ole Miss softball advances

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett05/17/25SpiritBen
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Ole Miss softball's Ashton Lansdell (Photo credit: Ole Miss Softball/X)

Ashton Lansdell was a one-woman highlight reel in Ole Miss softball’s first-round win over No. 23 Grand Canyon in the NCAA Tournament Friday night.

The No. 17 Rebels are in the Tucson Regional. Lansdell launched a home run and delivered stellar defense to power Ole Miss (38-17, 11-13 SEC) past Grand Canyon (46-7, 21-2 WAC), 7-4. The Rebels improved to 7-2 all-time in Regional openers.

Ole Miss trailed 3-0 after four innings. Grand Canyon had won 23 straight games, the nation’s longest active streak. Lansdell got the Rebels off the mat with a leadoff homer in a five-run fifth. She snuffed out a final Lopes threat on a diving catch ranging to her left at third base. 

She induced a game-ending double play after her foot touched the base upon landing. 

“I saw she was fouling off the ball to my right side like three times, so I knew to be ready,” Lansdell said. “I saw her hit the low line drive and I was like, ‘Oh I can get this’ and laid out for it. Hit a little toe drag and was really hoping I’d caught the bag and I did. It was crazy. Just found the bag and the right place at the right time, I guess.

“I wasn’t too sure if I got (the bag) in time. I was really hoping I did and I did.”

Ole Miss had 11 hits as a team in 24 at-bats.

Starter Brianna Lopez improved to 12-4 on the season by going 6.1 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Aliyah Binford secured her third save.

“Great game,” Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel said. “I’m super proud of our team. What a gritty performance. Bri was steady on the mound, as she always is, giving us plays to make. That’s a really, really good team. They’re well-coached and tough outs. They make adjustments. I was proud of the resiliency we had just to stick with it.

“Proud of our performance and the mentality we had and the fight we showed to come out with a win against a really, really tough opponent. Ashton obviously leading that off with a solo home run and then the double play to end the game. It took everyone. Excited for the opportunity against Arizona tomorrow.”

The Rebels next take on host and national No. 13 seed Arizona on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN.

RELATED: Ole Miss makes noise in SEC Tournament, downs defending champion Florida in thriller

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