TUCSON, Ariz. — Ole Miss went to the desert and found an oasis of softball success.

Aliyah Binford hit two of the Rebels’ four home runs as they beat Arizona 7-3 in a winner-take-all game at the NCAA softball tournament’s Tucson Regional on Sunday.

Ole Miss (40-18) advanced to the super regional round for the first time since 2019. It will face Arkansas in a best-of-three series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. in Fayetteville.

Arizona (48-13) lost a regional it hosted for the first time sine 2004. Ole Miss won one away from Oxford for the first time and advanced to its third super regional.

“I think we came in here to win the region. We stayed laser focused on the things that we could control, surrendered everything that we can’t, and just stayed within ourselves,” Ole Miss coach Jamie Trachsel said. “Our body of work, especially through the season and the progress we made, we didn’t have to be anyone we’re not. We had proven that we’re good enough. We just had to to play our best when it mattered the most and were able to do that.”

Ole Miss beat Grand Canyon in its regional opener, then won what turned out to be a best-of-three series against Arizona. The Rebels won 10-8 on Saturday, Arizona won 10-1 earlier Sunday, and then Ole Miss took the deciding game Sunday night.

Binford and Mackenzie Pickens each hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning of the finale. After Arizona got two runs back in the bottom of the first, Persy Llamas hit a solo home run and Ashton Lansdell a sacrifice fly in the third inning to put Ole Miss back in front 6-2.

Binford added another solo home run in the fourth.

Arizona’s best chance to get back in it came in the sixth inning. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs and Sydney Stewart, who had homered earlier, came to the plate. Ole Miss reliever Miali Guachino got Stewart to pop up to shortstop to end the threat and then retired the side in order in the seventh to end the game.

“Heck of a day, heck of a tournament, just kind of highlighted by today,” Trachsel said. “When we met with our team this morning we just said be prepared to be here as long as it takes and if it’s 21 innings and whatever that is. I’m really proud of the resiliency we showed and the transition, the mentality and the mindset that we had transitioning from game one into game two.”

OLE MISS AT ARKANSAS
NCAA Tournament super regional
At Fayetteville, Ark.; Best-of-3
May 23 – Ole Miss vs. Arkansas 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
May 24 – Arkansas vs. Ole Miss, 8 p.m.
May 25 – Ole Miss vs. Arkansas, TBA (if necessary)