SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Women’s College World Series began in Oklahoma City Thursday as the final eight teams compete for a national championship. Lexie Brady, from Sioux Falls, is on the sport’s biggest stage with the Ole Miss Rebels.

“It really kind of seemed like a dream that was far in the distance,” Brady said. “You watched the best in the game of softball on the stage and kind of look at them in awe and amazement. And now, I guess having the opportunity to be in their shoes, it’s crazy to believe.”

Brady, a fourth-year catcher, delivered in the biggest moment of the Super Regional victory. She hit a home run in the seventh inning to provide an insurance run for the Rebels as they defeated SEC rival Arkansas 7-4 to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City for the first time in program history.

“To see the joy on her face and the celebration of her teammates and all of that, that’s really who Lexie’s always been,” said Ed Whiting, Lexie’s club ball coach. “She just really a big kid playing softball.”

The O’Gorman product led Ole Miss in home runs this season with 17, good for top-10 in the SEC. Now, the Rebels, who were picked second to last in the conference at the beginning of the season, are a handful of wins away from immortality.

“I’m probably just going to, maybe during the national anthem, just like take a second to kind of see it all and take that in,” Brady said. “It’s honestly a dream come true.”

From playing here in Sioux Falls to the Women’s College World Series, Brady has etched out her own legacy.

“She’s definitely a hero to a bunch of little girls,” Whiting said. “And the beauty of that is she had those heroes that she looked up to growing up, and that dream just keeps paying itself back.”

Brady and Ole Miss played their first-round game Thursday night, and the Rebels fell to Texas Tech 1-0 as they were held to just two hits. Ole Miss will play an elimination game on Friday.