Jackson Free Press

The recent success of both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi over the last few seasons had both fan bases thinking this would be another season to spend a few weeks in Omaha, Neb., this summer.

Instead, MSU majorly flamed out. The Bulldogs finished the season with a losing record of 24-30 overall and 8-22 in SEC. The team was terrible on the road with a 3-16 record and a last-place finish in the SEC.

None of the three Southwestern Athletic Conference schools from Mississippi will go to a NCAA Regional. Texas Southern University won the SWAC baseball tournament, so the league will only get one team in the regionals.

Mississippi Valley State University wasn't allowed to play in the conference tournament, and Alcorn State University lost to Texas Southern. Jackson State University tried to win the tournament for the third straight time, but Southern University upended the school 6-5 in the semifinals. The Tigers won't make the postseason for the first time in three years.

That leaves both Ole Miss and the University of Southern Mississippi to carry the banner for our state. The good thing is that both the Rebels and Eagles have a chance to turn this disappointing season around.

However, both schools could still end up on the outside looking in when regionals are announced. Ole Miss enters the SEC Tournament as the sixth seed and will face the 11th seed, the University of Alabama, in its opening-round game. The Rebels really need to win it to make sure the selection committee doesn't start to second-guess them.

A quick check around the Internet shows that most projections have the Rebels in the field as of last week. Here is why Ole Miss is on the bubble: a 30-25 overall record, 15-14 SEC record and a 10-13 on-the-road record.

Southern Miss surged late this season to get into the postseason conversation. The Golden Eagles won 13 straight games, which gave them a chance at regionals. USM is the third seed in the Conference USA Tournament and hosts the event. The Golden Eagles are 35-16-1 overall, 19-10 in conference play and have a 14-7 record.

Southern Miss opens the C-USA Tournament against University of Alabama at Birmingham. USM can help its postseason chances with every win in the tournament. Currently, only D1baseball.com has the Golden Eagles in the field.

The margin for error is small for both the Rebels and Golden Eagles, but success this week gives our state something to keep cheering for in college baseball.

Follow Bryan Flynn at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports and at facebook.com/jfpsports.