2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team

American college baseball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team represents University of Southern Mississippi during the 2026 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Golden Eagles are coached by third-year head coach, Christian Ostrander, and play their home games at Pete Taylor Park.

ConferenceSun Belt Conference
CoachesNo. 7
D1Baseball.comNo. 7
Record44–17 (22–8 SBC)
Quick facts Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball, Sun Belt regular season and tournament championsRound Rock Classic champions ...
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball
Sun Belt regular season and tournament champions
Round Rock Classic champions
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
D1Baseball.comNo. 7
Record44–17 (22–8 SBC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Ladd Rhodes (3rd season)
  • Travis Creel (7th season)
Hitting coachBen Brewer (5th season)
Pitching coachGunner Leger (1st season)
Home stadiumPete Taylor Park
Seasons
← 2025
2027 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Sun Belt Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 7 Southern Miss ‍†‍‡‍y 22–8 .73340–14 .741
Coastal Carolina ‍‍‍y 21–9 .70036–19 .655
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 17–13 .56730–22 .577
Troy ‍‍‍y 17–13 .56729–27 .518
South Alabama  ‍‍‍ 17–13 .56733–21 .611
Texas State ‍‍‍y 16–14 .53334–22 .607
No. 25 Louisiana ‍‍‍y 16–14 .53334–21 .618
Old Dominion  ‍‍‍ 15–15 .50029–25 .537
Georgia State  ‍‍‍ 14–16 .46726–28 .481
Marshall  ‍‍‍ 13–17 .43323–31 .426
Arkansas State  ‍‍‍ 12–18 .40029–24 .547
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍ 12–18 .40027–28 .491
James Madison  ‍‍‍ 11–19 .36721–32 .396
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 7–23 .23316–40 .286
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament
As of May 17, 2026[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball
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Previous season

See also: 2025 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team

The 2025 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team finished the season as the Sun Belt tournament and regular season runners-up. They earned an at-large berth into the 2025 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, where they were nationally-seeded at 16 and got to host a regional. In the Hattiesburg Regional, Southern Miss hosted second-seed, Miami (FL); third-seed, Alabama; and fourth-seed, Columbia. The Golden Eagles went 3–2, losing to Miami in the regional final.[2]

Southern Miss second baseman Nick Monistere was named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Player of the Year.[3] Outfielder, Carson Paetow, won the 2025 Sun Belt Tony Robichaux Leadership Award.[3] Along with Paetow and Monistere, starting pitcher, JB Middleton and relief pitcher Colby Allen, were named to the All-Sun Belt first team.[3] Starting pitcher, Mitchell Heer; first baseman, Matthew Russo; shortstop, Ozzie Pratt; and outfielder, Jake Cook; were named to the All-Sun Belt second team.[3]

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released February 4, 2026, and the Golden Eagles were picked to finish second overall in the conference.[4]

More information Predicted finish, Team ...
Coaches Poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Coastal Carolina194 (12)
2Southern Miss182 (1)
3Troy166
4Marshall129
5Louisiana126 (1)
6Texas State114
7Georgia Southern104
7Old Dominion104
9Arkansas State96
10App State78
11South Alabama62
12Georgia State49
13James Madison48
14ULM18
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Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors

More information Player, No. ...
Preseason All-SBC Team
Player No. Position Class
Ben Higdon7OFRS Senior
Tucker Stockman36CRS Junior
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Offseason

Acquisitions

Incoming transfers

More information Name, No. ...
Incoming transfers
Name No. Pos. Height Weight Hometown Year Previous school
Kyle Morrison17INF6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)212 pounds (96 kg)Wetumpka, ALSeniorSouth Alabama
Thomas Crabtree18RHP6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 pounds (91 kg)Collierville, TNJuniorTennessee
Camden Clark20RHP6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)200 pounds (91 kg)Laurel, MSSophomorePearl River CC
Jake Neely25RHP6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)215 pounds (98 kg)San Antonio, TXSophomoreArizona State
Jace Norton25INF6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)196 pounds (89 kg)Auburn, ALRS SophomoreMississippi State
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Incoming recruits

More information Name, Number ...
2025 Southern Miss Recruits
NameNumberB/TPos.HeightWeightHometownHigh School
William Tonsmeire4R/ROF5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)185 pounds (84 kg)Vestavia Hills, ALVestavia Hills
Gray Eubanks8L/RINF5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)200 pounds (91 kg)Huntingdon, TNHuntingdon (TN)
Cade Durbin9R/RRHP6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)165 pounds (75 kg)Baton Rouge, LAParkview Baptist
Cade Adams13S/RC5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)175 pounds (79 kg)Pearland, TXPearland (TX)
Dylan Causey21R/RRHP6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)220 pounds (100 kg)Ellisville, MSSouth Jones
Braden Maranto22L/RINF5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)165 pounds (75 kg)Armory, MSAmory (MS)
Cooper Waddle23L/LLHP5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)180 pounds (82 kg)Fulton, MSItawamba Agriculture
Kevin Landry–Farr28R/RRHP6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 pounds (88 kg)Proctor, ARNorthpoint Christian
Sam Mitchell29R/RRHP6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)200 pounds (91 kg)Baton Rouge, LAParkview Baptist
Andrew Visconti37L/LLHP6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 pounds (91 kg)Mason, OHMason (OH)
Camden Rodgers42R/RRHP6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)228 pounds (103 kg)Tyrone, GATrinity Christian (TX)
Bruce Littleton43L/LLHP6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)225 pounds (102 kg)Vestavia Hills, ALVestavia Hills
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Personnel

Starters

More information Pos., No. ...
Lineup
Pos.No.Player.Year
C36Tucker StockmanRS Junior
1B19Matthew RussoSenior
2B17Kyle MorrisonSenior
3B5Ty LongSophomore
SS3Seth SmithJunior
LF11Davis GillespieRS Junior
CF1Joey UrbanSenior
RF7Ben HigdonRS Junior
DH15Drey BarrettSophomore
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More information Day, No. ...
Weekend pitching rotation
DayNo.Player.Year
Friday47McCarty EnglishRS Sophomore
Saturday6Colby AllenSenior
Sunday14Camden SunstromSophomore
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team
PlayersCoaches
#Pos.NameB/THeightWeightYearHome town
1 OF Joey Urban R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Sr Jupiter, FL
2 OF Caleb Stelly R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Sr Baton Rouge, LA
3 INF Seth Smith L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 194 lb (88 kg) Jr Mobile, AL
4 OF William Tonsmeire R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Vestavia Hills, AL
5 UTL Ty Long R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Ripley, MS
6 RHP Colby Allen R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Louisville, MS
7 OF Ben Higdon L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Sr Paducah, KY
8 INF Gray Eubanks L/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Huntingdon, TN
9 RHP Cade Durbin R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Baton Rouge, LA
10 C Lawson Odom R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Laurel, MS
11 OF Davis Gillespie R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Jr Birmingham, AL
12 LHP Kros Sivley L/L 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Sr Sumrall, MS
13 C Cade Adams S/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Pearland, TX
14 RHP Camden Sunstrom R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Baton Rouge, LA
15 INF Drey Barrett R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 214 lb (97 kg) So Holtville, AL
16 LHP Grayden Harris L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Central, LA
17 INF Kyle Morrison L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Sr Wetumpka, AL
18 RHP Thomas Crabtree R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Collierville, TN
19 INF Matthew Russo L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Sr Madisonville, LA
20 RHP Camden Clark R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Laure, MS
21 RHP Dylan Causey R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Ellisville, MS
22 INF Braden Maranto L/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Amory, MS
23 LHP Cooper Waddle L/L 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Fulton, MS
24 LHP Jackson Parker L/L 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS So Stringer, MS
25 RHP Jake Neely R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So San Antonio, TX
26 INF Jace Norton R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 196 lb (89 kg) RS So Auburn, AL
27 RHP Micah Wascom R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 202 lb (92 kg) So Bogalusa, LA
28 RHP Kevin Landry–Farr R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Proctor, AR
29 RHP Sam Mitchell R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Baton Rouge, LA
30 RHP Cole Richardson R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Ellisville, MS
32 RHP Josh Och R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Jr Victoria, MN
35 RHP Logan Pratt R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Fr Granada, MS
36 C Tucker Stockman R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Jr Athens, AL
37 LHP Andrew Visconti L/L 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Mason, OH
38 RHP Drake Meeks R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS So Birmingham, AL
39 RHP JW Armistead R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Mooreville, MS
41 RHP Teague Broadhead R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Fr Fairhope, AL
42 RHP Camden Rodgers R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Fr Tyrone, GA
43 LHP Bruce Littleton L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Vestavia Hills, AL
45 LHP Brooks Willoughby L/L 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Vicksburg, MS
47 RHP McCarty English R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS So Ocean Springs, MS
48 LHP Chase Adams L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Jr Normal, IL
Head coach

Christian Ostrander

Assistant coach(es)

Travis Creel
Ladd Rhodes
Ben Brewer
Gunner Leger

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: May 10, 2026

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Coaching and support staff

More information Name, Position ...
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball coaching staff
NamePositionSeasons at
USM		Alma mater
Christian OstranderHead coach3Delta State University (1996)
Travis CreelAssistant coach7University of Southern Mississippi (2013)
Ladd RhodesAssistant coach6Southeastern Louisiana University (2013)
Ben BrewerAssistant coach2University of Tennessee at Martin (2013)
Gunner LegerAssistant coach1University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2019)
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More information Name, Position ...
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball support staff
NamePositionSeasons at
USM		Alma mater
Sven PearsonAthletic trainer7Louisiana Tech University (2018)
Todd MakovickaStrength and conditioning coach8University of Southern Mississippi (2016)
Carly MakovickaDirector of operations2Mississippi State University (2018)
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Game log

More information Regular season: 40–14 (Home: 23–5; Away: 13–8; Neutral: 4–1), February: 9–1 (Home: 3–1; Away: 3–0; Neutral: 3–0) ...
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball game log (44–17)
Regular season: 40–14 (Home: 23–5; Away: 13–8; Neutral: 4–1)
Postseason: 4–3 (Home: 0–2; Away: 0–0; Neutral: 4–1)
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Canceled
Bold =Southern Miss team member
Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.[5]
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Schedule Notes

  1. [a]
    Part of a doubleheader.

Rankings

Main article: 2026 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
Coaches'[6]2020*12117151313132019131391077*
Baseball America[7]23211812101616161220161312888*8*
NCBWA†[8]2022141171113101117161212888*24
D1Baseball[9]2020121071211810221812128877*
Perfect Game[10]2318108612121315—221513101010*10*
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† NCBWA ranks 30 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 25 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

External links

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