Mississippi
Is more Mississippi magic possible this college baseball season?
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Mississippi State and Ole Miss have received faculty baseball’s nationwide championship in back-to-back seasons, rampaging by means of the School World Sequence at Omaha earlier than crowds that appeared 98% Mississippians.
However take a fast take a look at the Southeastern Convention present standings and we should ask ourselves: Did the Bulldogs and Rebels make a take care of the satan to win these nationwide crowns? And, is it now time to pay the satan? There are seven groups within the SEC’s Western Division. Mississippi State presently is in sixth place with a 3-9 league document, one sport forward of seventh place Ole Miss, which is 2-10.
Is that this a case of, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen?” Or is only a case of two proficient groups, off to dangerous begins, however nonetheless with loads of time to show it round?
It’s most likely someplace in between. Let’s have a look. Defending nationwide champ Ole Miss is 18-13 total. 2021 champ Mississippi State accomplished the Easter weekend with an total document of 19-14. Each are 5 video games above .500 and have performed inconsistently, whereas displaying the potential to go on a late season run the way in which Ole Miss did a 12 months in the past.
Bear in mind, the 2022 nationwide champs have been 22-17, 5 video games above .500, at an excellent later juncture final 12 months and turned it round in late April, Could and June in one of the crucial unlikely championship runs in faculty baseball historical past. After profitable simply 22 of their first 39 video games, the Rebels received 20 of their final 27.
It will possibly occur.
Nevertheless it has to begin quickly.
Neither Ole Miss, nor State, is almost as destitute because it might need appeared when each started the SEC season by getting swept of their first two sequence. Ole Miss opened towards Vanderbilt and Florida, each ranked among the many prime six groups within the nation. State likewise opened towards Kentucky and Vandy. In the event you’re not at you greatest towards that form of competitors, the end result is not going to be nice. And it wasn’t for both. Each began 0-6.
However each have performed higher since. Ole Miss has misplaced two of three to each Texas A&M and Arkansas. State misplaced a tricky sequence to South Carolina, then received the sequence at Bama.
Each the Rebels and Bulldogs must play much better nonetheless. And simply look whom they play of their subsequent weekend sequence. That might be one another. Ole Miss and State sq. off for a three-game sequence at Starkville starting Friday at 6 p.m. Due to their gradual begins, this turns into way more essential than your regular mid-April sequence.
Each play mid-week video games Tuesday evening — State on the street at UAB and Ole Miss at residence towards Memphis. Then comes the showdown, which State has dominated in latest seasons.
Ole Miss has not received the annual weekend sequence since 2015. State has received seven of the final 10 video games between the 2, and 16 off the final 20. State has received six of the final 9 video games performed at Starkville.
Vital to recollect is that we haven’t fairly reached the midway level of the SEC season. So, this could’t be described as a make-or-break sequence. State presently sits at No. 29 in RPI rankings, whereas Ole Miss is No. 38. State has performed the nation’s second most troublesome schedule, Ole Miss the tenth most troublesome. Each have time to show it round. That stated, this weekend could be the optimum time to get headed in the proper course.
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Southern Miss coach Scott Berry earned victories Nos. 500 and 501 on the college in a weekend sequence at Previous Dominion because the Golden Eagles took two of three from the Monarchs, who had been tied for first within the Solar Belt.
The Golden Eagles enter the week with at 19-11 total and 7-5 within the Solar Belt – and with a No. 27 RPI towards the nation’s twentieth most troublesome schedule. The Golden Eagles are two video games out of first place with James Madison coming to city for a weekend sequence.
After a gradual begin, the Eagles have received seven of their previous 10, enjoying most of these on the street. After 30 video games a 12 months in the past, the Eagles have been 22-8 after which received 25 of their final 34 video games.
The schedule units up nicely. Southern Miss performs 4 of its final six convention sequence at residence.