How surging Ole Miss softball can make noise in NCAA Tournament and beyond

OXFORD — Jamie Trachsel’s mission is simple: Elevate the Ole Miss softball program.

An opportunity to do so awaits Trachsel and her Rebels in Salt Lake City this weekend, where Ole Miss will compete in its seventh consecutive NCAA regional. Ole Miss (30-26) opens play in the double-elimination format against Baylor (39-16) on Friday (noon CT, ESPNU). Host Utah (37-13) and Southern Illinois (36-18) make up the rest of the regional pod.

“This program’s been successful,” said Trachsel, who is in her third season at the helm. “They’ve been to two super regionals, regionals seven years running. So it’s not just us. But it is our job to come in here and continue and carry on the traditions, the successes, but to elevate it to a place that is hasn’t been consistently.”

It’s a mission the Ole Miss administration shares. Once the Rebels conclude their season, the process to demolish the current softball stadium and built a new one in its place will begin in earnest, Trachsel said.

She expects the upgraded stadium to be ready for the Rebels to play in at the beginning of next season.

“They’re committing to Ole Miss softball,” Trachsel said. “Not everyone can say that where they’re at. So, feel really fortunate. I think that’s a little bit of a byproduct of the conference here. To not just compete, but to compete to win championships here, whether that’s in conference or postseason play, it just takes what it takes. And they’re willing to go to that space.”

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The Rebels closed out their time at the current softball complex by rallying from three runs down in the seventh inning to beat Alabama ‒ the No. 5 overall seed in this season’s NCAA Tournament.

They followed that up by topping LSU, another regional host, in the first round of the SEC Tournament before losing a heartbreaker to Auburn. After overcoming some early-season injuries to key players and a 3-9 start to SEC play, Trachsel is encouraged by what she’s seen from her team recently.

“We’ve weathered that storm and we’re playing our best right now,” she said. “I think to get to super regionals would say a lot about the players that are here this year and what we’ve been through and how we can play our best when it matters the most.”

Outfielder Mya Stevenson leads the Rebels with 12 home runs and a .927 OPS. Infielder Paige Smith is also getting hot at the right time, Trachsel said. She’s 10 for her last 33 at the plate, and four of those hits have been home runs. Lexie Brady is another key figure in the Ole Miss lineup, with a .410 on-base percentage and .895 OPS.

On the mound, Catelyn Riley has started each of the last four games for the Rebels. She owns a 2.67 ERA and 6-5 record on the season.

The opposition won’t be easy. Utah and Southern Illinois are fresh off conference tournament championships, and Baylor finished fourth in a strong Big 12 conference. But Ole Miss can derive confidence from its experience in the SEC, which sent all but one of its teams to the tournament and boasts five regional hosts.

“I think just playing consistent on both sides of the ball,” Trachsel said. “Having our defense and our offense both be productive and to make plays defensively to limit opportunities for us.”

Do that, and the Rebels just might keep the bulldozers on the sideline for another week.

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How surging Ole Miss softball can make noise in 2023 NCAA Tournament