Excitement is building for the University of Southern Mississippi baseball team as the Golden Eagles prepare for the 2025 season. Led by head coach Christian Ostrander, the team looks to continue its tradition of excellence, aiming for success both in the Sun Belt Conference and on the national stage.
Ostrander, known as “Coach Oz” by his players, emphasized the team’s mindset going into the season, saying they will approach it with a “New Team, New Year, New Heartbeat” mentality. The Golden Eagles, backed by a committed coaching staff and a supportive community, are poised to make a deep postseason run.
The 2024 season brought reasons for optimism. Southern Miss showcased its tenacity with key victories over high-ranking opponents, including Ole Miss and Alabama. Despite falling short of a deeper run, the team’s postseason performance set a strong foundation for the future. The disappointment of last season has only fueled the team's drive for greater success in 2025.
Returning standouts Ozzie Pratt and Davis Gillespie will lead the team. Pratt, an All-Conference selection, and Gillespie, who delivered in crucial moments last season, are expected to anchor the lineup.
“We’ve brought in some new guys, we have a big freshman class,” Gillespie said. “I feel like they’ll help out a lot this year with four new transfers. I feel there’s a lot of similarities between this year and last year.”
The Golden Eagles face a challenging 2025 schedule that includes non-conference matchups against in-state rivals Mississippi State and Ole Miss, as well as LSU and TCU. These games will test the team's mettle ahead of Sun Belt Conference play.
“We’ll play anybody anywhere, and we look forward to competing and playing great baseball,” Ostrander said.
Southern Miss will also host key games at Pete Taylor Park, where fans are expected to create an electric atmosphere. Before aiming for a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, the team’s first goal is to win the Sun Belt Conference. With strong competition from teams like Troy and Coastal Carolina, the Golden Eagles will need to perform at their best throughout the season.
“Just like every year, our goal is to win championships,” Ostrander said. “Regular-season title, a conference tournament title, regionals—try to stack up as much as you can, and if you do those things, you’ll get to play postseason baseball.”
Ostrander noted the importance of pitching in achieving these goals. While the starting pitching staff is relatively unproven, he expressed confidence in their readiness.
“I think this year our starting pitching is still unproven,” Ostrander said. “But this year, we have young men who haven’t been in that role before, but they’re ready.”
As Southern Miss prepares for the 2025 season, the excitement around the program is intense. With a talented roster, strong leadership, and the backing of loyal fans, the Golden Eagles are ready to take on the challenges ahead and aim for a trip to Omaha.
