Jackson Free Press

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is hosting a viewing party starting at 6:30 p.m., when Mississippi State takes on UCLA in the first of a best-of-three game series for the 2013 National Championship.

The Bulldogs (51-18) will face the Bruins (47-17) at 7 p.m. at T.D. Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., but the folks over at the Hall of Fame are trying to recreate the atmosphere right here to Jackson.

The museum features three 90-inch, high-definition TV screens, including one on the second floor with stadium-style seating. Organizers say the event will include a beer and food sales.

With the help of event sponsor Capital City Beverages and private donations, the Hall of Fame has shipped in memorabilia from Omaha via Fed Ex, including Mississippi State College World Series gear.

Rick Cleveland--museum director, JFP contributor and this writer's father--said organizers plan to set it up so fans can have the experience of going to the game.

"We have Mississippi State College World Series shirts," he said. "We also have officially-licensed CWS T-shirts and a few other items. We're going to have ballpark food. It ought to be fun."

Admission is free, although tax-deductible donations to the museum are welcome. All proceeds from merchandise, food and alcohol sales go directly to benefit the museum.

The MSU Bulldogs are the first team in Mississippi's storied baseball history to reach the final series in a College World Series, and that's caused baseball-mania to sweep an already smitten state.

This is the seventh CWS berth for Mississippi State, while Southern Miss made its first appearance in 2009. Ole Miss has come within a game of making it to Omaha twice in the past five years, but has fallen short each time.

A picture taken at Ameritrade Park during Mississippi State's game last Friday night--which resulted in a 4-1 win over Oregon State--showed Bulldog fans holding a huge sign that read O.M.A.H.A. - Ole Miss At Home Again.

Fourth-year Bulldog head coach John Cohen will send pitcher Trevor Fitts (0-0) to the mound tonight to face UCLA's Adam Plutko (9-3).

The second game of the best-of-three series is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday. If necessary, the two teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Wednesday night. The Hall of Fame will host viewing parties as long as the series continues.