From UM Media Relations:
TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 17 Ole Miss softball delivered in a winner-take-all battle Sunday night at No. 12 Arizona, ousting the host Wildcats, 7-3, to win the Tucson Regional and advance to the Super Regionals for the third time in program history.
The Rebels (40-18, 11-13 SEC) clinched their first Super Regional appearance since 2019 and won their first-ever regional outside of Oxford. The Rebels handed the Wildcats (48-13, 17-7 Big 12) their first exit from a regional they hosted since 2004.
The Rebels launched four home runs in the win and five on the day, with three from Aliyah Binford across two games, including two in the win. As a unit, the Rebels hit 11 home runs over four games in the regional.
Arizona won game one of Sunday's championship round, handing the Rebels their first loss of the double-elimination regional, 10-1, but Ole Miss refocused ahead of game two. The Rebels came out of the gate hot and plated four runs in the first inning of game two to take command early.
Binford and Mackenzie Pickens each launched two-run home runs in the first inning to make it a 4-0 advantage that the Wildcats never overcame.
Arizona responded with two runs in the bottom half, but Ole Miss soon got those runs back. Persy Llamas went yard to start the third inning, then Lexie Brady singled and scored after a Pickens double and Ashton Lansdell sacrifice fly, making it a four-run lead once again.
The hosts used a solo home run to chip back in the bottom of the third, but Binford matched it in the top of the fourth with her second long ball of the game to make it a 7-3 contest. Binford finished the day with three RBI, tying the single-season program record at Ole Miss with her 54th RBI.
Brianna Lopez and the Rebel defense held the dangerous Arizona offense scoreless in the fourth and fifth before the Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. With the dynamic Sydney Stewart up to bat, the Rebels went to the bullpen for Miali Guachino. That finished off the day for Lopez, who went 5.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs and striking out three.
Guachino took the circle in a critical moment, but responded and promptly induced a pop-up to escape the jam.
The Rebels tried to add more runs in the top of the seventh inning, as Rachel Connors delivered a pinch hit single into the gap in right field, but Taylor Strain was thrown out at home trying to score.
Needing three more outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Guachino delivered, generating multiple line outs. The final out found the glove of Llamas on a line, and the Rebels secured the victory.
Ole Miss advances to the Fayetteville Super Regional, where it'll meet a familiar foe in SEC rival and No. 4 overall seed Arkansas. Game one is set for Friday, May 23 at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPNU.
