No. 25 Ole Miss Baseball Faces No. 22 Southern Miss in Neutral Site Matchup

The Rebels look to extend their five-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of navy, gold, and white, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of a college baseball game between two talented teams.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between two in-state rivals, Ole Miss and Southern Miss, as they compete for regional supremacy on the diamond.Oxford Today

No. 25 Ole Miss baseball, winners of seven of their last eight games, will travel to Pearl, Mississippi on Tuesday to face off against No. 22 Southern Miss in a neutral site matchup at Trustmark Park. The Rebels are currently on a five-game winning streak and are coming off a sweep of LSU last weekend, where they scored 26 runs and had 32 hits - both the most in any SEC series this season. The Golden Eagles, led by second-year head coach Christian Ostrander, are 25-11 on the year and have faced several Power Five opponents already this season.

Why it matters

This midweek clash between two ranked in-state rivals provides an opportunity for Ole Miss to continue their hot streak and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the SEC regular season. Southern Miss has also been a strong team this year, making this an important non-conference test for both programs as they look to position themselves for postseason play.

The details

Ole Miss will send right-hander JP Robertson (2-1, 3.71 ERA) to the mound, while Southern Miss is expected to counter with freshman left-hander Bruce Littleton (1-0, 1.04 ERA). The Rebels have been led offensively by Hayden Federico, who is hitting .714 over the last week, and Owen Paino, who hit two home runs and drove in eight runs. The Ole Miss pitching staff has been impressive as well, ranking second in the SEC and fifth nationally with 419 strikeouts.

  • The game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 6 p.m. CT.

The players

JP Robertson

The Ole Miss right-hander will get the start on the mound for the Rebels. He has a 2-1 record and 3.71 ERA so far this season.

Bruce Littleton

The Southern Miss freshman left-hander is expected to start for the Golden Eagles. He has a 1-0 record and 1.04 ERA in 10 relief appearances this year.

Christian Ostrander

In his second season as head coach, Ostrander has helped revitalize the Southern Miss baseball program, leading the Golden Eagles to a 25-11 record and a No. 22 national ranking.

Hayden Federico

The Ole Miss outfielder has been on a tear lately, hitting .714 over the last week with six walks, three hit-by-pitches, four RBIs, and three runs scored.

Owen Paino

The Rebels' slugger hit two home runs last week and drove in eight runs, helping Ole Miss sweep LSU.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with the same energy and focus that has led to our recent success. Southern Miss is a very talented team, and we know we'll have our hands full, but we're confident in our ability to compete at a high level.”

— Mike Bianco, Ole Miss Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of Tuesday's game will gain valuable momentum and confidence heading into the final stretch of the regular season as they look to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This midweek matchup between two ranked in-state rivals provides an exciting opportunity for both Ole Miss and Southern Miss to showcase their talent and continue building their postseason resumes. The Rebels will look to extend their hot streak, while the Golden Eagles aim to bounce back from a recent series loss and prove they can compete with one of the top teams in the SEC.