Athens, Ga. — The no. 18 Ole miss softball team continues its journey at the SEC tournament,poised for a quarterfinal showdown against No. 3 Texas. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m.CT at Jack Turner Stadium.

Road to the Quarterfinals

The Rebels (37-16, 11-13 SEC) secured their spot after a narrow 1-0 victory over Missouri in the frist round, followed by a thrilling 6-3 extra-innings win against No.4 Florida. They now face the Longhorns (45-9, 16-8 SEC), who are making their debut in the SEC Tournament.

Leading Off: Key Stats and Storylines

• Ole Miss faces No. 3 Texas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal,marking their first encounter since Texas joined the SEC.
• The Rebels hold an 11-11 all-time record in the SEC Tournament and have advanced through two consecutive rounds for the first time since 2017.
• Did you know? Ole Miss has set a new programme record for home runs in a season with 52, surpassing the 2023 mark of 49.
• Jaden Pone has been on a hitting tear, boasting a .433 average as the start of April.Eight of her 14 multi-hit games have occurred in SEC play, including a standout 4-for-4 performance against No. 6 Florida and a 3-for-3 showing against No. 1 Tennessee.
• Persy Llamas is capping off a remarkable freshman season, leading the team with 18 multi-hit games. She holds the record for the most RBI by an Ole Miss freshman and the second-most in a single season in program history.
• Llamas leads the Rebels with 4 RBI in two SEC Tournament games. Alongside Mackenzie Pickens, all 7 Rebel runs have come via freshmen during this tournament.
• Miali Guachino has recorded 168 strikeouts, the most in a single season by a rebel since Mary Jane Callahan’s 177 in 2004. Guachino currently ranks third on the single-season strikeout list at Ole Miss.

Recapping the Victory Over Florida

In a dramatic, back-and-forth contest, Ole Miss triumphed over No. 4 Florida, 6-3 in eight innings, after the Gators erased a seventh-inning deficit. The freshmen were the start of the show, as noted after the game.

• Persy Llamas hit a crucial three-run home run in the third inning.
• Mackenzie pickens delivered the go-ahead three-run blast in the eighth inning.
• Brianna Lopez started the game and returned to earn the save, pitching a combined 4.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out six.

Scouting Texas: A Formidable Foe

The No. 3 Texas longhorns,a top team throughout the season,enter their inaugural SEC Tournament with a 45-9 overall record and a 16-8 conference mark,aiming for a deep postseason run.

Head coach Mike White has guided the Longhorns in and out of the No. 1 overall ranking for much of the season, entering the weekend following a season-ending sweep of Kentucky.

The Longhorns boast a diverse, powerful, and versatile offense, led by Reese Atwood, who is hitting .409 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI. atwood is one of five Longhorns hitting over .400 this season, led by mia Scott who is hitting .435 with seven home runs and 52 RBI. Joley Mitchell (13 home runs, 51 RBI) and Katie Stewart (13 home runs, 70 RBI) are other key power threats.

Texas features one of the nation’s top pitchers in Teagan Kavan, who is 21-4 with a 2.24 ERA (146.2 IP) and 183 strikeouts. Though, the Longhorns have multiple options in the circle, including Citlaly Gutierrez (9-1, 2.32 ERA) and Mac Morgan (9-3, 2.95 ERA).

This matchup marks the first meeting between the Rebels and the Longhorns since Texas joined the SEC and their first encounter since 2021. Ole Miss will also be Texas’ first-ever opponent in the SEC Tournament.