After a period of declining offense and interest, the NCAA switched to a new baseball with flatter seams in hope of raising scores and ramping up excitement from the fans.
The returns from opening weekend came back positive.
Mississippi State University scored a combined 48 runs in its first four games, compared to just 21 a season ago. Defending SWAC champion Jackson State University totaled 30 runs in four games compared to 11 over the same stretch last season. University of Southern Mississippi also exceeded its run total over its first three games, 23-14.
Coincidence? The in-state look reflects the bigger picture. Scoring increased 11 percent nationally from 2014's opening weekend. The NCAA had also hoped to increase big hits. SEC teams clubbed 34 home runs over the weekend compared to 21 last year.
There had been disagreement about how much of a difference the new ball would make. Southern Miss coach Scott Berry told Home Cookin' before the season that he thought it would be significant, while Mississippi State's John Cohen termed it a "subtle" impact.
There was little debate, though, that something needed to be done to ramp up offense in the NCAA. No one wants baseball games that last five hours, but games where hardly anyone scores are no fun, either.
It appears the NCAA has struck a better balance with the new ball. That's good news for college baseball.
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