Two weekends into the college baseball season, Mississippi’s top teams have shown they can compete at a high level, with all three ranked nationally and boasting a combined 22-1 record, according to sources.
Mississippi State and Ole Miss are both 8-0, though against less challenging opponents. Southern Miss, which has won six straight and claimed the Round Rock Classic, is 6-1 after defeating Purdue, Oregon State, and Baylor in consecutive games.
State’s squad, led by third baseman Ace Reese, is hitting .341 with eight home runs through eight games. Reese is batting .500 with two homers and seven doubles. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff has also improved, striking out 101 batters while walking only 22, with opponents hitting just .204, according to reports.
State faces a tougher schedule ahead, including games against Arizona State, Virginia Tech, and No. 1 UCLA at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas. The team will also play Southern Miss in Hattiesburg two days later, before opening SEC play March 13 at Arkansas.
Ole Miss ranks No. 1 in early RPI ratings and has started strong with wins over Nevada, Missouri State, Arkansas State, and Jackson State. The Rebels’ standout pitcher is left-hander Hunter Elliott, who starts Friday nights. The team leads in home runs, with Judd Uttermark hitting six in eight games, including a long blast into a north wind at Swayze Field.
Southern Miss opened with a loss to Cal-Santa Barbara but has since won six straight, including victories over Purdue, Oregon State, and Baylor at Round Rock. Senior Joey Urban has been a hitting star, batting .458 with two home runs and a triple. The Eagles’ deep roster and strong pitching staff are preparing them for upcoming conference play, which begins March 13 at Arkansas State.
Elsewhere in Mississippi, Division II powerhouse Delta State is 9-2, including a conference sweep over Union University. William Carey has won 11 of its first 16 games, and Jackson State faces a busy week with multiple games scheduled, testing its pitching staff early in the season.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
