University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Friday, February 14
Pete Taylor Park
4 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Lafayette
Baseball Opens 2025 Season with Four-Game Series Versus Lafayette
2/13/2025 9:37:00 AM | Baseball
Dates                 Time (CT)          Probable Rotation
Fri, 14                 4 p.m.                 RH Joe Skapinetz, Sr. (2-7, 8.12 ERA) vs. RH JB Middleton, Jr. (2-1, 4.34 ERA in 2024)
Sat., 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12 noon (G1)Â Â Â Â RH Kellen Moore, Fr. (HS in 2024) vs. LH Kros Sivley, Jr. (4-5, 4.441 ERA in 2024)
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                            TBA (G2)           TBA vs. RH Matt Adams, Sr. (Redshirted in 2024)
Sun., 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 p.m. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â LH Trace Florio, Jr. (2-3, 10.20 ERA) vs. LH Grayden Harris, Fr. (Freshman in 2025)
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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss opens its 2025 baseball season this weekend at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field with a four-game series against Lafayette of the Patriot League.
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The two teams enjoy a 4 p.m., first pitch on opening day, before playing a 12-noon doubleheader, Saturday, with a 1 p.m. single game, Sunday, to finish the set. This will be the first meeting ever for the two schools in baseball. All four games can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
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The Friday opener starts the 97th season of Golden Eagle baseball as the program is under the direction of second-year head coach Chrisian Ostrander. Southern Miss looks to continue its string of 40-win seasons as they currently have the nation's longest streak in Division I at eight-straight seasons.
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The 2023 squad finished 43-20, won the Sun Belt Tournament championship for the second consecutive season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the eighth-straight year and 20th time overall.
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This year's roster features 23 returning letterwinners, including six position player starters and 12 pitchers, while adding 15 newcomers. Heading into the year, the Sun Belt's head coaches picked the Golden Eagles to win the regular season crown in the league and five Southern Miss players – Colby Allen, Matthew Russo, Ozzie Pratt, Davis Gillespie and Nick Monistere – were named preseason all-league selections.
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Lafayette, from Bethlehem, Pa., which finished 14-35 a season ago, was picked to finish fifth in the six-team Patriot League. Their catcher, Ethan Swidler, who hit .327 with nine homers and 35 RBI a season ago, was named to the conference's preseason team.
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Following the Lafayette series, the Golden Eagles continue their season-opening homestand with Mississippi State, Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m.
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Fri, 14                 4 p.m.                 RH Joe Skapinetz, Sr. (2-7, 8.12 ERA) vs. RH JB Middleton, Jr. (2-1, 4.34 ERA in 2024)
Sat., 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12 noon (G1)Â Â Â Â RH Kellen Moore, Fr. (HS in 2024) vs. LH Kros Sivley, Jr. (4-5, 4.441 ERA in 2024)
  Â
                            TBA (G2)           TBA vs. RH Matt Adams, Sr. (Redshirted in 2024)
Sun., 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 p.m. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â LH Trace Florio, Jr. (2-3, 10.20 ERA) vs. LH Grayden Harris, Fr. (Freshman in 2025)
Â
Â
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss opens its 2025 baseball season this weekend at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field with a four-game series against Lafayette of the Patriot League.
Â
The two teams enjoy a 4 p.m., first pitch on opening day, before playing a 12-noon doubleheader, Saturday, with a 1 p.m. single game, Sunday, to finish the set. This will be the first meeting ever for the two schools in baseball. All four games can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
Â
The Friday opener starts the 97th season of Golden Eagle baseball as the program is under the direction of second-year head coach Chrisian Ostrander. Southern Miss looks to continue its string of 40-win seasons as they currently have the nation's longest streak in Division I at eight-straight seasons.
Â
The 2023 squad finished 43-20, won the Sun Belt Tournament championship for the second consecutive season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the eighth-straight year and 20th time overall.
Â
This year's roster features 23 returning letterwinners, including six position player starters and 12 pitchers, while adding 15 newcomers. Heading into the year, the Sun Belt's head coaches picked the Golden Eagles to win the regular season crown in the league and five Southern Miss players – Colby Allen, Matthew Russo, Ozzie Pratt, Davis Gillespie and Nick Monistere – were named preseason all-league selections.
Â
Lafayette, from Bethlehem, Pa., which finished 14-35 a season ago, was picked to finish fifth in the six-team Patriot League. Their catcher, Ethan Swidler, who hit .327 with nine homers and 35 RBI a season ago, was named to the conference's preseason team.
Â
Following the Lafayette series, the Golden Eagles continue their season-opening homestand with Mississippi State, Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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