University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Opens Season with Three-Game Set versus Eastern Illinois
2/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Stats: Southern Miss - Eastern Illinois
TV: None
Radio Network: Hattiesburg (WKZW-FM, 94.3), Jackson (WJDX-AM 620), Columbia (WFFF-FM, 96.7), Gulfport/Biloxi (WTNI-AM 1640/WXBD-AM 1490); Southern Miss Gameday App (free)
Webstream Link ($): Friday -- Saturday -- Sunday
Live Stats: -- --
Pitching Probables --
Friday - RH Matt Vivinis, RSr. (3-8, 6.44 ERA) vs. RH Cord Cockrel, Sr. (3-0, 4.37 ERA), 4 pm
Saturday -- RH Michael McCormick, Jr. (No Stats) vs. RH Jake Winston, Sr. (1-0, 2.58 ERA), 2 pm
Sunday -- RH Brendon Allen, Sr. (No Stats) vs. LH Kirk McCarty, So. (4-1, 4.09 ERA), 1 pm
* 2015 stats for their respective team
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball team opens the 2016 season this weekend when they entertain Eastern Illinois in a three-game series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
The Golden Eagles, which finished 2015 at 36-18-1, start the schedule Friday at 4 p.m., followed by a single game at 2 p.m., Saturday, and a 1 p.m., single contest Sunday.
The 2016 season marks the 88th-year of baseball for Southern Miss and the Golden Eagles start the campaign at home for the 18th time over the last 19 seasons. In season openers since 1947, the Golden Eagles are 40-28-1.
The team returns five position player starters from a season ago, including preseason All-Conference USA selection Tim Lynch, who posted a. 323 batting average along with nine homers and 32 RBI a season ago. Senior Chase Scott, who sported a 21-game hitting streak in 2015, returns after posting a .288 average with four homers and 30 RBI, as does junior Dylan Burdeaux, who added a .283 batting mark with four homers and 28 RBI.
Ten pitchers return from last year's season that included a school-record 10 shutouts and senior righthander Cord Cockrell (3-0, 4.37) gets his first opening day nod. Senior righthander Jake Winston makes his first start since his freshman campaign on Saturday, before sophomore southpaw Kirk McCarty returns for his second year in a starting role.
Scott Berry, who reached the 200 win plateau quicker than any Golden Eagle baseball coach, returns for his seventh season at the helm of the Southern Miss program.
The EIU series begins a string of eight-straight home games for the Golden Eagles, with ULM scheduled to come to Hattiesburg Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m.
Promotions This Weekend -
* Friday - Kids Takeover The Pete - Free Admission for Kids 12 and Under.
* Friday and Saturday - an inflatable bounce house will be open for all children to enjoy near the Roost entrance.
* Saturday - the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a 2016 Baseball Poster.
* Sunday - all kids get to run the bases after the game and members of Seymour's Sidekicks receive Free Admission with their ID Card for Sunday games.
