Binford’s Gem Powers Ole Miss Softball Past Miami, 7-1
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – (Release) Behind another strong performance in the circle, the Ole Miss softball program earned an emphatic, 7-1 win over Miami on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Field.
The Rebels (10-3, 0-0 SEC) got another complete game performance, this time from Aliyah Binford, who went seven innings, allowing just six hits and one run, while striking out a season-high eight Redhawks (3-9, 0-0 MAC).
With the win, head coach Jamie Trachsel earned her 150th win as head coach of the Rebels.
The Rebels got out to an early lead in the opening inning, as Taylor Malvin singled and advanced all the way to third base on a throwing error. That set up Persy Llamas, whose sharp ground ball took an unlucky bounce off the pitcher’s leg to the shortstop, who threw her out at first, but not before Malvin came home for a 1-0 lead.
Binford kept the potent Redhawks offense off the board and gave her offense time to add on insurance. The Rebels added a run in the third inning the hard way, turning two walks and two hit-by-pitches into an RBI for Mackenzie Pickens and a 2-0 advantage.
However, the game was broken open in the fourth inning, as three straight walks loaded the bases for Llamas. Llamas flew out, but an errant throw back by the Redhawks left fielder allowed Malvin to score and make it 3-0. Binford helped herself out even further on the next at bat with a double down the left field line to make it 5-0.
With all the run support she needed, Binford continued to rip through the Redhawks lineup and opened with five scoreless innings. However, the Rebels scoreless streak of 31 consecutive innings would come to an end on a solo home run, making it 5-1.
Jaden Pone led off the sixth inning with a single and Malvin walked, as the two shortly advanced into scoring position for Llamas. A sacrifice fly by Llamas and a wild pitch that scored Malvin helped the Rebels create an insurmountable lead of 7-1. Binford would close out the game by inducing a double play and striking out the final batter.
Ole Miss will wrap up action at the Rocket City Softball Showcase on Sunday, as the Rebels face James Madison at 10 a.m. CT and Louisiana Tech at 12:30 p.m. CT.
-Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports
Adam Brown
Adam Brown joins The Rebel Walk as the Managing Editor after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 11 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
