Grit and explosiveness in this high-stakes SEC Quarterfinal slugfest
In what promises to be a high-octane clash of styles, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns and No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels are set to collide in this SEC Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday with Women’s College World Series seeding hanging in the balance. Texas, riding a dominant 45-9 overall record, has turned heads with a lineup stacked from top to bottom, while Ole Miss enters at 37-16, leaning heavily on gritty pitching and clutch bats.
For the No. 3-ranked Longhorns, offensive depth isn’t just a strength — it’s a statement. Texas is explosive and capable of putting up crooked numbers quickly with power throughout the lineup with versatile senior Mia Scott leading the charge with a red-hot batting average of .435. while sophomore outfielder Kayden Henry swings with a slugging percentage of .545 and a .416 batting average with redshirt junior outfielder Ashton Maloney batting .410. Power threats like junior catcher Reese Atwood (17 HR, 68 RBI, .866 SLG %) and sophomore infielder Katie Stewart (13 HR, 70 RBI) make it nearly impossible for opposing pitchers to catch a break. The Longhorns have outscored opponents by 266 runs and average 7.1 runs per game.
In the circle, the pitching staff boasts a combined 2.50 ERA and a .221 opponent batting average. Sophomore right-hander Teagan Kavan has quietly assembled an ace-caliber season, posting a 2.24 ERA with 183 strikeouts in just under 147 innings. Combine that with a team fielding percentage of .974 and you have a defense that rarely flinches under pressure with pitching depth that offers few weak spots.
But don’t count out the No. 11 Rebels.
Ole Miss, while more modest on paper, thrives offensively on timely hitting. Their 13-0 record at neutral sites proves they know how to travel with a team ERA of 2.93, and with the emergence of freshman Persy Llamas and senior catcher Lexie Brady as middle-order anchors has added real bite to their offense. Brady, in particular, has mashed 15 homers while batting .328 — quietly becoming one of the SEC’s toughest outs — but the Rebels have left more runners on base (320) than they’d prefer and turned only nine double plays all season.
Ole Miss plays opportunistic ball, often relying on scrappiness and late-inning execution. Despite a lower fielding percentage (.969) and weaker long-ball presence, they excel at manufacturing runs and aggressive base running (67-79 in steals vs. Texas’s 70-83).
Pitching-wise, freshman right-hander Miali Guachino and senior left-hander Brianna Lopez shoulder the bulk of the innings with ERAs at 3.10 and 2.45 as both have shown the ability to shut down top-tier lineups when locked in. If they can get ahead in counts and avoid Texas’s punishing long-ball, this one could tighten fast.
Expect a tactical battle — the Longhorns looking to overwhelm early, while the Rebels aim to counterpunch with timely hitting and strategic small-ball. Don’t be surprised if a key double play or a gutsy stolen base changes everything.
One team thrives on precision, the other on disruption. Only one style will survive in this SEC quarterfinal in Athens at Jack Turner Softball Stadium at 4 p.m. Central. The game will be streamed on the SEC Network.