David44

USM gets their midweek game 3-2 over UNO. Not impressive at first glance, but I saw a lot of positives in that game. 3 runs on 10 hits + 6 walks certainly tells you they left lots on base, but several of those rallies started with 2 outs. And there were some very hard hit balls that the baseball gods just decided were going to be outs. Most encouraging was that they kept grinding out at bats and applying pressure on UNO. in some of the losses lately, I saw a team that made one push after getting behind and then just kinda faded away. Good to see some fight from them.

Not a great weekend for USM or MS. Ole Miss righted the ship. Somehow USM still in the top 10 D1 baseball. The loss in Game 2 to ODU really came in 1 inning. Colby Lewis came in with 2 on 2 out, and gave up 6 runs, which was shocking considering how reliable he has been from the pen.

USM just not hitting lately. 1st 16 games this year, they averaged right at 7 runs per game. The last 13 games they have averaged 4.8. Scoring 1 run in a mid-week game against mid -week pitching is abysmal. Too much pressure on the 2 guys at the top that are still hitting (Urban and Morrison) and too much pressure on the pitching staff. Ole Dominion on the road this weekend, which may be a good thing to get away from Hattiesburg and all the bad noise.

Iran has been supporting and exporting terrorism for over 40 years, killing thousands of people, with no regard for humanity whatsoever. Something had to be done before they developed their own nuclear weapon, and started World War 3. Thankfully, we have a President with the will power to finally do what none before him would. May God be with our brave men and women soldiers.

I know it's a long way off, but that very first region game on 10/09 may be for the region championship. 2 things of note: it is at home and WC has a bye week to get ready.

State came out locked in an focused at the plate. Some very good at bats early, hard hit singles and taking walks when they got ahead in counts. Once they got the 4 run lead, started looking to go yard more. (and did go yard). USM had a chance in the 1st to get to Billingsley, and promptly hit into a DP. This one will leave a mark on USM in the polls. Some voters will see 12-0 in 7 and put more weight on that, than a mid-week loss generally carries.

MS was impressive tonight. If they get 7 innings of 2 hit pitching from the starting pitcher, with that batting order, they can beat any team in the country. USM bounces back and finally gets some key hits with runners on base. Troy pitching was good, but USM had some really good at bats. Kros Sivley was the MVP, came in the 2nd inning and held Troy down for 5 innings. Maybe this game gets the offense out of the funk it had been in.

They probably walked him ALOT, maybe similar to 2004 and Barry Bonds.

Also, notably from the USM game. Colby Allen came out of the pen, faced 4 batters. I guess this could mean 3 things: Grayson Harris is moving to the Friday night slot. He has been the best weekend starter. Colby is moving to Saturday and Oz just wanted to get him some work, or is moving back to the bullpen, and there will be a new Saturday weekend starter(Crabtree?)

USM gets by Nichols State 4-0. Bats are still In a funk. Coach OZ shuffling the lineup up an new DH which is needed right now. Meanwhile, not sure who is following the WBC championship, but USA down 2 0 in the 6th. I liked Mark Derosa as an Atlanta Brave but my goodness, how do you sit Gunner Henderson after the impact he had Sunday when they beat Dominican Republic.

USM had their chances yesterday. Down 3-2 in the 7th, go ahead runners on base and run into the 3rd out at home plate. Runners in scoring position in the 8th and fail to score also, then AS hits 2 HR in the bottom to pad the lead. Not the end of world, but hopefully humbling in a good way. They have to realize that carrying a Top 10 ranking puts an enormous target on their back to every SB opponent. Last year, Coastal went 26-4 in SB play, but 2 of those 4 losses were their 1st weekend road trip at Troy.

Rain should hold off to 3pm supposedly. Yeah Arkansas State is definitely legit. Preseason Sunbelt poll had them around 10th. I think they finish in the top 4 when the dust clears.

Won't be a cakewalk for USM this weekend. 2nd year coach Mike Silvia started turning Arkansas State program around last year. They beat Arkansas 12-4, lost the next night 1-0, and had Ole Miss beat before losing late 7-6 earlier this year.

Everything cranks up this weekend for sure. I think it will be very hard for anybody to sweep State. You may have to face 1 or even 2 legit weekend aces, but I just can't see anyone holding that offense down for 3 games in a row. Arkansas RPI and SOS kinda weak thus far, so this may be a chance to steal a rare road SEC series. I think Ole Miss takes at least one game at Texas, too.

What a game this was. I thought USM had blown there best chance in the 6th. 1st and 2nd no outs, fail to get the bunt down, and promptly hit into inning ending DP. Both teams pitched/played at a very high level. Lot of baseball left, but USM looks like they could be this years Coastal Carolina team. 15-2 now with 37 left. Win 30 to finish with 45 RS wins, and with the work they have done already, will certainly be a national seed. Haven't seen the OM weekend starters, but if they are as good at Taylor Rabe and some of the other arms that pitched last night, this team can hold their own and then some in the SEC gauntlet. They won't have to have the top offense to win their share of games.