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.
Previous season
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.
Southern Miss second baseman Nick Monistere was named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Player of the Year. Outfielder, Carson Paetow, won the 2025 Sun Belt Tony Robichaux Leadership Award. Along with Paetow and Monistere, starting pitcher, JB Middleton and relief pitcher Colby Allen, were named to the All-Sun Belt first team. Starting pitcher, Mitchell Heer; first baseman, Matthew Russo; shortstop, Ozzie Pratt; and outfielder, Jake Cook; were named to the All-Sun Belt second team.
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.
Coaches Poll 1 Coastal Carolina 194 (12) 2 Southern Miss 182 (1) 3 Troy 166 4 Marshall 129 5 Louisiana 126 (1) 6 Texas State 114 7 Georgia Southern 104 7 Old Dominion 104 9 Arkansas State 96 10 App State 78 11 South Alabama 62 12 Georgia State 49 13 James Madison 48 14 ULM 18
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors
Preseason All-SBC Team Player No. Position Class Ben Higdon 7 OF RS Senior Tucker Stockman 36 C RS Junior
Offseason Acquisitions Incoming transfers Incoming transfersNameNo.Pos.HeightWeightHometownYearPrevious school 17 INF Wetumpka, AL South Alabama 18 RHP Collierville, TN Tennessee 20 RHP Laurel, MS Pearl River CC 25 RHP San Antonio, TX Arizona State 25 INF Auburn, AL Mississippi State
Incoming recruits
2025 Southern Miss RecruitsName Number B/T Pos. Height Weight Hometown High School 4 R/R OF Vestavia Hills, AL Vestavia Hills 8 L/R INF Huntingdon, TN Huntingdon (TN) 9 R/R RHP Baton Rouge, LA Parkview Baptist 13 S/R C Pearland, TX Pearland (TX) 21 R/R RHP Ellisville, MS South Jones 22 L/R INF Armory, MS Amory (MS) 23 L/L LHP Fulton, MS Itawamba Agriculture 28 R/R RHP Proctor, AR Northpoint Christian 29 R/R RHP Baton Rouge, LA Parkview Baptist 37 L/L LHP Mason, OH Mason (OH) 42 R/R RHP Tyrone, GA Trinity Christian (TX) 43 L/L LHP Vestavia Hills, AL Vestavia Hills
Personnel
Starters LineupPos. No.Player. Year C 36 Tucker Stockman RS Junior 1B 19 Matthew Russo Senior 2B 17 Kyle Morrison Senior 3B 5 Ty Long Sophomore SS 3 Seth Smith Junior LF 11 Davis Gillespie RS Junior CF 1 Joey Urban Senior RF 7 Ben Higdon RS Junior DH 15 Drey Barrett Sophomore
Weekend pitching rotation Day No.Player. Year Friday 47 McCarty English RS Sophomore Saturday 6 Colby Allen Senior Sunday 14 Camden Sunstrom Sophomore
Roster
Coaching and support staff
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball coaching staff Name Position Seasons atUSM Alma mater Christian Ostrander Head coach 3 Delta State University (1996) Travis Creel Assistant coach 7 University of Southern Mississippi (2013) Ladd Rhodes Assistant coach 6 Southeastern Louisiana University (2013) Ben Brewer Assistant coach 2 University of Tennessee at Martin (2013) Gunner Leger Assistant coach 1 University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2019)
2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball support staff Name Position Seasons atUSM Alma mater Sven Pearson Athletic trainer 7 Louisiana Tech University (2018) Todd Makovicka Strength and conditioning coach 8 University of Southern Mississippi (2016) Carly Makovicka Director of operations 2 Mississippi State University (2018)
Game log 2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball game log (44–17) 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) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall SBC February 13 ESPN+ No. 21 UCSB* No. 20 Pete Taylor ParkHattiesburg, MS L 1–5 Flora (1–0) Allen (0–1) Hoover (1) 5,498 0–1 — February 14 ESPN+ No. 21 UCSB* No. 20 Pete Taylor Park W 8–6 Och (1–0) Krodel (0–1) Clark (1) 5,561 1–1 — February 15 ESPN+ No. 21 UCSB* No. 20 Pete Taylor Park W 6–5 Clark (1–0) Jannicelli (0–1) — 5,459 2–1 — February 17 ESPN+ at * No. 20 Pat Kenelly DiamondHammond, LA W 3–1 Och (2–0) Gisclair (0–1) Clark (2) 1,544 3–1 — February 20 D1B+ vs. Purdue* No. 20 Dell DiamondRound Rock, TX W 5–4 Clark (2–0) Kramer (0–2) — 3,572 4–1 — February 21 D1B+ vs. No. 11 Oregon State* No. 20 Dell Diamond W 9–4 Harris (1–0) Kleinschmit (0–1) Sunstrom (1) 4,391 5–1 — February 22 D1B+ vs. * No. 20 Dell Diamond W 5–1 Sivley (1–0) Hansen (0–1) Armistead (1) 3,245 6–1 — February 25 ESPN+ No. 25 Alabama* No. 12 Pete Taylor Park W 14–48 Littleton (1–0) Blackwood (0–1) — 5,538 7–1 — February 27 ESPN+ at * No. 12 J. C. Love FieldRuston, LA W 8–3 Sivley (2–0) Dahl (2–1) Och (1) 2,888 8–1 — February 28 ESPN+ at Louisiana Tech* No. 12 J. C. Love Field W 11–07 Harris (2–0) Rowan (2–1) — 2,818 9–1 — March: 12–7 (Home: 10–4; Away: 1–3; Neutral: 1–0) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall SBC March 1 ESPN+ at Louisiana Tech* No. 12 J. C. Love Field W 6–2 Sunstrom (1–0) Roberson (2–1) Clark (3) 2,263 10–1 — March 3 ESPN+ No. 4 Mississippi State* No. 11 Pete Taylor Park W 7–6 Och (3–0) Miller (1–1) Clark (4) 5,716 11–1 — March 4 ESPN+ * No. 11 Pete Taylor Park L 2–3 Avery (1–0) Crabtree (0–1) Poirrier (1) 5,370 11–2 — March 6 ESPN+ North Alabama* No. 11 Pete Taylor Park W 9–4 Allen (1–1) Patterson (0–2) Sivley (1) 5,364 12–2 — March 7 ESPN+ North Alabama* No. 11 Pete Taylor Park W 6–1 Harris (3–0) Davenport (2–2) Och (2) 5,263 13–2 — March 8 ESPN+ North Alabama* No. 11 Pete Taylor Park W 9–2 English (1–0) Stogner (1–1) — 5,152 14–2 — March 10 ESPN+ Ole Miss* No. 7 Pete Taylor Park W 2–1 Clark (3–0) Robertson (2–1) — 5,775 15–2 — March 13 ESPN+ at No. 7 Tomlinson StadiumJonesboro, AR L 5–8 Weimer (3–0) Sunstrom (1–1) — 1,748 15–3 0–1 March 14 ESPN+ at Arkansas State No. 7 Tomlinson Stadium W 7–1 Harris (4–0) Nelson (1–2) — 1,972 16–3 1–1 March 15 ESPN+ at Arkansas State No. 7 Tomlinson Stadium L 2–5 Farley (3–0) English (1–1) Garrison (3) 1,051 16–4 1–2 March 17 ESPN+ vs. Nicholls* No. 12 Keesler Federal ParkBiloxi, MS W 4–0 Sunstrom (2–1) Richard (2–1) — 3,023 17–4 — March 20 ESPN+ Troy No. 12 Pete Taylor Park L 5–6 Stubbs (2–0) Harris (4–1) Ellingworth (1) 5,341 17–5 1–3 March 21 ESPN+ Troy No. 12 Pete Taylor Park W 11–5 Sivley (3–0) Alonso (3–1) — 5,457 18–5 2–3 March 22 ESPN+ Troy No. 12 Pete Taylor Park W 5–4 Clark (4–0) Ellingworth (0–2) — 5,187 19–5 3–3 March 24 SECN+ at No. 4 Mississippi State* No. 11 Dudy Noble FieldStarkville, MS L 0–127 Bauer (1–0) Crabtree (0–2) — 12,887 19–6 — March 27 ESPN+ Appalachian State No. 11 Pete Taylor Park W 6–5 Allen (2–1) Wilson (1–1) Clark (5) 5,359 20–6 4–3 March 28 ESPN+ Appalachian State No. 11 Pete Taylor Park L 2–6 Beaty (1–0) Sivley (3–1) — 5,303 20–7 4–4 March 29 ESPN+ Appalachian State No. 11 Pete Taylor Park W 13–4 Armistead (1–0) Barozzino (0–2) — 5,231 21–7 5–4 March 31 ESPN+ SE Louisiana* No. 8 Pete Taylor Park L 1–5 Lirette (2–1) Sivley (3–2) — 5,190 21–8 — April: 10–6 (Home: 5–0; Away: 5–5; Neutral: 0–1) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall SBC April 2 ESPN+ at Old Dominion No. 8 Bud Metheny BallparkNorfolk, VA W 10–4 Harris (5–1) Kuskie (2–5) — 180 22–8 6–4 April 3 ESPN+ at Old Dominion No. 8 Bud Metheny Ballpark L 8–10 Tanton (3–0) Sunstrom (2–2) — 214 22–9 6–5 April 4 ESPN+ at Old Dominion No. 8 Bud Metheny Ballpark W 8–7 Clark (5–0) Davis (0–1) — 285 23–9 7–5 April 7 ESPN+ New Orleans* No. 10 Pete Taylor Park W 3–2 Allen (3–1) Alack (0–3) — 5,310 24–9 — April 10 ESPN+ at Louisiana No. 10 M. L. Tigue Moore FieldLafayette, LA W 8–1 Harris (6–1) Pruitt (2–3) — 4,218 25–9 8–5 April 11 ESPN+ at Louisiana No. 10 M. L. Tigue Moore Field L 4–8 Herrmann (4–2) Sunstrom (2–3) — 4,121 25–10 8–6 April 12 ESPN+ at Louisiana No. 10 M. L. Tigue Moore Field L 5–6 Smith (2–3) Och (3–1) Brasch (5) 3,975 25–11 8–7 April 14 vs. No. 25 Ole Miss* No. 22 Trustmark ParkPearl, MS L 3–10 Koenig (2–0) Littleton (1–1) — 7,285 25–12— April 17 ESPN+ Texas State No. 22 Pete Taylor Park W 8–2 Harris (7–1) Cooper (4–1) — 5,430 26–129–7 April 18 ESPN+ Texas State No. 22 Pete Taylor Park W 6–3 Sunstrom (3–3) Smith (3–1) Sivley (2) 5,492 27–1210–7 April 19 ESPN+ Texas State No. 22 Pete Taylor Park W 5–410 Crabtree (1–2) Gutierrez (2–1) — 5,380 28–1211–7 April 21 ESPN+ Tulane* No. 18 Pete Taylor Park W 5–4 Allen (4–1) Vincent (1–2) — 5,332 29–12— April 24 ESPN+ at South Alabama No. 18 Eddie Stanky FieldMobile, AL W 4–3 Och (4–1) Shineflew (4–2) Allen (1) 2,713 30–1212–7 April 25 ESPN+ at South Alabama No. 18 Eddie Stanky Field W 16–7 Sivley (4–2) Bozenhard (2–2) — 1,808 31–1213–7 April 26 ESPN+ at South Alabama No. 18 Eddie Stanky Field L 3–4 Stevens (5–1) Och (4–2) — 2,474 31–1313–8 April 28 ESPN+ at Tulane* No. 12 Turchin StadiumNew Orleans, LA L 6–7 Larson (2–2) Broadhead (0–1) — 2,247 31–14— May: 9–0 (Home: 6–0; Away: 3–0; Neutral: 0–0) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall SBC May 2 ESPN+ ULM No. 12 Pete Taylor Park W 2–111 Allen (5–1) Roark (2–2) — 5,376 32–14 14–8 May 2 ESPN+ ULM No. 12 Pete Taylor Park W 3–1 Clark (6–0) Corley (2–2) Och (3) 33–14 15–8 May 3 ESPN+ ULM No. 12 Pete Taylor Park W 7–3 Sunstrom (4–3) Sheets (3–2) — 5,434 34–14 16–8 May 8 ESPN+ at James Madison No. 12 Veterans Memorial ParkHarrisonburg, VA W 8–5 Och (5–2) Kinsler (4–2) Allen (2) 1,008 35–14 17–8 May 9 ESPN+ at James Madison No. 12 Veterans Memorial Park W 11–18 Clark (7–0) McKinney (2–4) — 631 36–14 18–8 May 10 ESPN+ at James Madison No. 12 Veterans Memorial Park W 10–5 Sunstrom (5–3) Lutz (3–5) — 440 37–14 19–8 May 14 ESPN+ Georgia Southern No. 8 Pete Taylor Park W 14–37 Harris (8–1) Holder (2–6) — 5,418 38–14 20–8 May 15 ESPN+ Georgia Southern No. 8 Pete Taylor Park W 10–1 Clark (8–0) Garrett (0–8) Sivley (3) 5,421 39–14 21–8 May 16 ESPN+ Georgia Southern No. 8 Pete Taylor Park W 11–08 Sunstrom (6–3) Mason (3–5) — 5,432 40–14 22–8 Postseason: 4–3 (Home: 0–2; Away: 0–0; Neutral: 4–1) : (4–1) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall SBCT Record Source May 20 ESPN+ vs. (9) Georgia State (1)No. 8 Dabos ParkMontgomery, AL W 7–6 Allen (6–1) Crooms (3–5) — 320 41–14 1–0 May 22 ESPN+ vs. (4) Troy (1)No. 8 Dabos Park W 7–6 Och (6–2) Ellingworth (1–4) — 650 42–14 2–0 May 23 ESPN+ vs. (4) Troy (1)No. 8 Dabos Park L 6–9 Crotchfelt (5–2) Sunstrom (6–4) Egan (1) 692 42–15 2–1 May 24 ESPN+ vs. (4) Troy (1)No. 8 Dabos Park W 6–2 Allen (7–1) Nelson (3–2) — 732 43–15 3–1 May 24 ESPN+ vs. (7) Louisiana (1)No. 8 Dabos Park W 11–7 Crabtree (2–2) Herrmann (7–5) — 1,093 44–15 4–1 : (0–2) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall NCAAT Record May 29 ESPN+ (4) (1)No. 7 Pete Taylor Park L 4–7 Andrews (5–2) Allen (7–2) — 5,331 44–16 0–1 May 30 ESPN+ (2) Virginia (1)No. 7 Pete Taylor Park L 11–1510 Stammel (4–5) Crabtree (2–3) — 5,331 44–17 0–2 Legend: = Win = Loss = CanceledBold =Southern Miss team memberRankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Schedule Notes
Rankings
References
External links USM baseball