New field, new look for Southern Miss baseball
January 31st is the last day of the last month without Southern Miss baseball and media day. The Golden Eagles are exactly two weeks away from breaking in their new turf with a new look line-up upon the departure of USM’s home run king.
$1.3 million well spent by Southern Miss who is all in on its new year, new field. “I tell you what, it’s like you and I moving into a new house. There’s just a new excitement.”
Even more juice for a USM baseball program that’s already won five titles over the last four years and was just picked to win Conference USA earlier this week. Head Coach Scott Berry said, “For us to be touted No. 1 or picked No. 1 preseason is nothing but respect for what we’ve done in this program. To me, it has nothing to do with this team. Just like you went for a new job interview, whatever your resume says is everything you’ve done before now.”
Coming off their fourth straight 40 win season, the Golden Eagles have commanded that respect. But this year, they might have to command it in a different way, having lost their top three home run hitters from 2019, including the school’s all-time leader in that department Matt Wallner. “We’re probably going to be a little bit different team in the fact that we’re going to have to manufacture some runs. On-base percentage is going to be very crucial for us. Cutting out strikeouts is going to be crucial for us, where in years past we could kind of live with the strikeout because we had the chance to blow the yard.”
Second baseman Matthew Guidry said, “We’re still buying into our new offensive approach, but again, you’re not allowed to not hit home runs. So we’re definitely going to have some fun this year, and it’s going to be a fun offense to play for.”
Matthew Guidry’s eight home runs from a year ago are tops amongst returning players, not surprising given the fact he’s been named a team captain for the second year in a row. Joining him in that leadership role for the first time is Gulfport alum Alex Nelms. “I mean first off, it’s just an honor. I think that was the first reaction, was just like wow. To be highly regarded by your teammates is obviously the goal of an upper classman and something I’ve been working towards my four years here. And then as you reflect on it, it becomes more responsibility oriented, and you realize that these guys really do look to you to set the example and really lead this team,” said Nelms.
In four words, players describe this team as scrappy, gritty, surprising, and passionate. That’s exactly why those big game Eagles always seem to be holding up a trophy at the end of May as they chase their third straight C-USA Tournament title at MGM Park. Pitcher Walker Powell said, “We might not have Wallner or the big names anymore, but people know we’re still some dogs out there and we’re nobody to mess with.”
Southern Miss will lead off the 2020 campaign against Murray State. First pitch set for February 14th at 4 p.m. from Pete Taylor Park.
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