Aliyah Binford

Personal: Binford is the daughter of Gregory and Betty Binford. She has a Great Dane named Loki. She credits Dr. Don Arterburn, a mental health specialist at Baylor, as someone who has made a meaningful difference in her life. She models her game after former MLB player Craig Biggio and considers her mother one of her idols because of the sacrifices she has made for their family. Binford described feeling starstruck when Ole Miss defeated Arkansas to advance to the NCAA Women’s College World Series in 2025. Her most memorable moment, however, was receiving her master’s degree. Outside of softball, she enjoys swimming, traveling, reading, and being spontaneous. Her favorite movie is The Cat in the Hat.

College Experience: Binford was a two-way standout at Baylor from 2020 to 2024 and completed her collegiate career at Ole Miss during the 2025 season. Over the course of her career, she started 244 of 249 games and compiled a .303 batting average with 31 home runs and 151 runs batted in. In the circle, she posted a 51-28 career record over 127 appearances, including 68 starts, finishing with a 3.15 earned run average and 496 strikeouts across 533.0 innings pitched. In her final season at Ole Miss, Binford earned Second-Team NFCA All-South Region honors and played a pivotal role in leading the Rebels to their first NCAA Women’s College World Series appearance. She was named to the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team after batting .344 with four home runs and nine RBIs over nine postseason games. As a pitcher during the postseason, she recorded a 2-2 record with a 2.66 ERA and did not allow an earned run in 11.0 innings at the World Series, striking out eight batters. Binford was selected to both Softball America and D1Softball’s Top 100 Players list for the 2025 season. She posted a .320 batting average with a team-high 30 extra-base hits, including 15 doubles, three triples, and 12 home runs. She also set new Ole Miss single-season records for RBIs (55) and total bases (122). In the circle, she contributed an 11-5 record with a 3.26 ERA over 122.1 innings pitched, striking out 88 batters in 29 appearances with eight complete games and two shutouts, one of which was a no-hitter against Murray State. Prior to transferring, Binford was a two-time NFCA All-Region selection at Baylor and earned Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference honors twice. She was named D1Softball’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year after returning from injury. During her five seasons with the Bears, she started 182 of 187 games and hit .297 with 19 home runs, 96 RBIs, 153 hits, 37 doubles, and one triple. In the circle, she compiled a 40-23 record with a 3.12 ERA across 98 appearances, including 54 starts. She also recorded seven saves, 23 complete games, and six shutouts. In 2024, Binford played in 52 games with 47 starts, while also pitching in 31 games with 23 starts. She hit .272 with 34 hits, including seven doubles and three home runs, and drove in 21 runs. She led all Big 12 pitchers with 154 strikeouts, including 54 looking, and matched her career high of 11 strikeouts in a game three times. She also threw nine complete games. Her 2023 season was cut short after 11 games due to injury, but she hit .440 with 11 hits—including three extra-base hits—and posted a 2-0 pitching record over six appearances with 21 strikeouts in 21.0 innings. In 2022, Binford led Baylor with 15 doubles and five home runs while starting 54 games. She also posted a 9-6 record in the circle with a 2.66 ERA and struck out 156 batters over 137.0 innings. As a sophomore in 2021, she started 46 games while splitting time between shortstop and pitcher. That season, she led the Bears with 28 RBIs, hit .273, and recorded five home runs, including two three-run home runs against Kansas on April 30 to tie the Getterman Stadium single-game RBI record. Binford began her college career during the COVID-shortened 2020 season by going 7-0 in the circle with a 3.12 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. She also hit .271 as a freshman with five doubles, five home runs, 14 RBIs, and seven runs scored.