University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Friday, February 13
Pete Taylor Park
4 pm
Southern Miss
vs
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Baseball Opens 98th Season with UC Santa Barbara on Friday
2/12/2026 4:15:00 PM | Baseball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss baseball opens its 98th season Friday when they entertain UC Santa Barbara for the first of a three-game series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
The series continues with a 12-noon contest Saturday, with the series completing at 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
The Golden Eagles, which finished 47-16 a season ago and hosted their fourth NCAA Tournament Regional, opens the season at home for the 12th consecutive season. They have captured their last 11 season openers.
UC Santa Barbara, which compiled a 36-18 record a season ago, enter the year picked to win the Big West Conference in 2026. This will be the first time the two programs have met on the diamond, and it marks the first school from the state of California to come to The Pete since Saint Mary's College did it in 2010.
The opening game features likely the best pitching matchup of the day with a pair of All-Americans on the mound for each squad. The Gauchos plan to throw highly regarded junior right-hander Jackson Flora (6-3, 3.60 ERA in 2025) against Golden Eagle right-hander Colby Allen (7-4, 3.63 ERA in 2025).
Southern Miss returns six position player starters from a season ago, including senior center fielder Joey Urban (.333, 9 HR, 27 RBI), catcher Tucker Stockman (.332, 6 HR, 33 RBI), right fielder Ben Higdon (.323, 7 HR, 22 RBI), first baseball Matthew Russo (.290, 18 HR, 57 RBI), third baseman Drey Barrett (.254, 9 HR, 30 RBI) and left fielder Davis Gillespie (.242, 8 HR, 30 RBI).
Several promotions also return for this season, including baseball card sets given out each Sunday during the regular season (it includes a Saturday May 16 giveaway on the final day of the regular season) as well as Kids Running the Bases after each Sunday contest. The 50/50 raffle also returns for each home contest during the year.
There will also be opening day koozies given out to fans on Friday only.
Following the UC Santa Barbara series, the Golden Eagles take to the road for a Tuesday night matchup at Southeastern Louisiana. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
The series continues with a 12-noon contest Saturday, with the series completing at 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
The Golden Eagles, which finished 47-16 a season ago and hosted their fourth NCAA Tournament Regional, opens the season at home for the 12th consecutive season. They have captured their last 11 season openers.
UC Santa Barbara, which compiled a 36-18 record a season ago, enter the year picked to win the Big West Conference in 2026. This will be the first time the two programs have met on the diamond, and it marks the first school from the state of California to come to The Pete since Saint Mary's College did it in 2010.
The opening game features likely the best pitching matchup of the day with a pair of All-Americans on the mound for each squad. The Gauchos plan to throw highly regarded junior right-hander Jackson Flora (6-3, 3.60 ERA in 2025) against Golden Eagle right-hander Colby Allen (7-4, 3.63 ERA in 2025).
Southern Miss returns six position player starters from a season ago, including senior center fielder Joey Urban (.333, 9 HR, 27 RBI), catcher Tucker Stockman (.332, 6 HR, 33 RBI), right fielder Ben Higdon (.323, 7 HR, 22 RBI), first baseball Matthew Russo (.290, 18 HR, 57 RBI), third baseman Drey Barrett (.254, 9 HR, 30 RBI) and left fielder Davis Gillespie (.242, 8 HR, 30 RBI).
Several promotions also return for this season, including baseball card sets given out each Sunday during the regular season (it includes a Saturday May 16 giveaway on the final day of the regular season) as well as Kids Running the Bases after each Sunday contest. The 50/50 raffle also returns for each home contest during the year.
There will also be opening day koozies given out to fans on Friday only.
Following the UC Santa Barbara series, the Golden Eagles take to the road for a Tuesday night matchup at Southeastern Louisiana. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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