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‘It took everybody’: What Ole Miss softball had to say after historic season ends in WCWS

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett05/31/25SpiritBen
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Jamie Trachsel and Ole Miss softball reached the WCWS for the first time in Rebel history in 2025 (Photo credit: Ole Miss Softball/X)

Ole Miss softball’s historic 2025 season, including the program’s first-ever berth in the College World Series, came to an end Friday night. 

The No. 17 Ole Miss Rebels, the only unseeded team remaining in the NCAA Tournament, twice fell behind No. 16 Oregon only to battle back, including overcoming a three-run deficit late to force extras. 

Ultimately, though, they suffered their second straight one-run loss in Oklahoma City, 6-5. 

“We had 30-50 alumni here that traveled to be part of this,” Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel said. “And they are part of this. We get to be in Oklahoma City, but we come from the work and the path the players and the coaches and the other people before us laid. 

“To our families and our friends, to the support we had not only here in the stadium but across the country, I can’t tell you how much it means to all of us. And we heard them. They were loud.”

Ole Miss and two-way star Aliyah Binford in the opening round matched Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady pitch-for-pitch. 

But Canady, who’s been on an historic run this season, gave up no runs on two hits in her 7.0 innings to send Ole Miss to the loser’s side of the bracket with a 1-0 loss.

Binford was brilliant again against Oregon. She covered 5.0 innings in relief and gave up an unearned run on one hit, three walks and seven strikeouts. She surrendered just a pair of unearned runs in two games. The Rebels had 11 hits as a team. Three Rebels had at least two. Binford was 1 for 5 with a double.

The Rebels were picked in the preseason to finished 14th in the 15-team SEC. They ended 42-21, while Oregon stayed alive and improved to 54-9. 

Ole Miss is 22-21 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and was making its ninth straight appearance. The Rebels have been five years in a row under Trachsel.

“It took everybody on our team to be able to get here,” Trachsel said afterwards. “Obviously people were in different roles. What a big role for (Binford), too, especially as a pitcher, and a hitter and really as a defender, too, as a three-way player. She definitely saved her best for last and she’s had a great season for us. But the last couple of weeks offensively and pitching-wise were her best performances. No doubt, she’s a big reason why we’re here.”

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