Mississippi baseball fans will have plenty to cheer for as Hattiesburg and Oxford have been selected as host sites for the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament Regionals. Both Southern Miss and Ole Miss have earned the right to host, despite suffering tough losses in their respective conference championship games on Sunday.
Southern Miss entered the Sun Belt Tournament Championship in Montgomery riding an 18-game winning streak, the longest in program history. However, their momentum came to a halt as Coastal Carolina defeated the Golden Eagles 7-5 in a hard-fought battle. Southern Miss had taken a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning, but a disastrous five-run fifth inning by Coastal Carolina proved to be the difference.
Despite the loss, Southern Miss’ 44-14 record and strong resume secured them a regional host spot at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. This marks the fourth time Hattiesburg has hosted a regional, with previous occasions in 2003, 2017, and 2022. The Golden Eagles will look to regroup and make another deep postseason run.
Meanwhile, up the road in Hoover Ole Miss battled Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament Championship Game. The Rebels, who had been on a strong run through the tournament, fell 3-2 in a nail-biting contest. Ole Miss had runners on base in the ninth inning, but Vanderbilt’s pitching held firm to secure the victory.
Despite the loss, Ole Miss’ 40-19 record and strong performance throughout the season earned them a regional host spot at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. This marks the 11th time Ole Miss has hosted a regional, all under head coach Mike Bianco. The Rebels, who won the 2022 National Championship, will look to bounce back and make another deep run.
With both Southern Miss and Ole Miss earning hosting duties, Mississippi solidifies its reputation as a college baseball powerhouse. Fans can expect electric atmospheres at Pete Taylor Park and Swayze Field, as both programs look to capitalize on home-field advantage and advance to the Super Regionals.
The full 64-team field and regional matchups will be announced on Monday, with games set to begin on May 30. Baseball fans across the state will be eagerly watching as these two storied programs aim to make their mark on the Road to Omaha.
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