University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Friday, February 16
Pete Taylor Park
4 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Marist
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Christian Ostrander Era Opens Friday with Marist fWeekend Series
2/15/2024 4:01:00 PM | Baseball
Dates Time (CT) Probable Rotation
Fri, 16 4 p.m. RH Tyler Hartley, So. vs. RH Niko Mazza, Jr. (5-2, 4.34 ERA)
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Sat., 17 6 p.m. RH Riley Orr, Gr. Vs. RH Billy Oldham, Sr. (8-3, 4.21 ERA)
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Sun., 18 1 p.m. LH Will Taylor, So. vs. LH Kros Sivley, So. (4-1, 3.70 ERA)
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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Christian Ostrander era of Southern Miss baseball begins Friday when the Golden Eagles open their 2024 season against Marist at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
The Golden Eagles, which finished 46-20 a season ago and reached the NCAA Super Regionals for a second-straight year, look to extend its postseason streak to eight consecutive years this spring.
For Ostrander, Southern Miss must replace six position player starters from a season ago as well replace several pieces to the pitching puzzle in 2024.
Position player starters back from last season include preseason All-America pick Slade Wilks, who batted .289 with team highs of 20 home runs and 58 RBI from 2023. Sophomore Nick Monistere also returns and is expected to move from second base to center field after putting together a .320 batting average with five homers and 28 RBI in 37 games during his freshman campaign. Carson Paetow also returns in right field after putting together a .269 average with four homers and 36 RBI last season.
Three pitchers back from 2023 will get starting nods in the opening series against the Red Foxes, who finished 16-36 overall a year ago with a 10-14 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, including Niko Mazza, Billy Oldham and Kros Sivley.
Mazza posted a 5-2 record with a 4.34 ERA a year ago, while Oldham put together an 8-3 campaign with 4.21 ERA. Sivley, who appeared in relief in 25 of 26 outings his freshman season, was 4-1 with four saves and a 3.70 ERA.
While Ostrander is in his first year at the helm of the program, this is his seventh season overall with the Golden Eagles as he is just the fifth coach for the program since 1959.
The Golden Eagles open their 96th season of baseball this weekend, which also marks the 26th time over the last 28 years that they have opened at Pete Taylor Park. The program also holds a 48-28-1 record on its opening day since 1947.
Game times for the remaining games this weekend include 6 p.m., Saturday, and 1 p.m., Sunday. All three games can be seen via ESPN+ and as well as heard on the Southern Miss Sports Network.
Following the Marist series, the Golden Eagles finish their season-opening four-game homestand against Air Force Monday at 4 p.m.
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