HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) \u2014 Jacksonville State enters the Hattiesburg Regional as a three-seed with 46 wins, a Conference USA championship, and a top 25 RPI.<\/p>\n
Head coach Steve Bieser says the heart of the team is its culture.<\/p>\n
That culture has a strong connection to Jones College. Four former Bobcats have become important pieces for Jacksonville State this year: Brady Thomas, Beau Bryans, Connor Brooks, and Colton Hegwood.<\/p>\n
This weekend, they return to a place that still feels like home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is awesome. We\u2019re going to hit in the cages at Jones on Saturday. We get to work out at a place that we\u2019re super familiar with. They did such a good job preparing us in every way, on the field, off the field. I couldn\u2019t thank Wes Thigpen enough. They do a great job over there, and we\u2019re ready,\u201d Brooks said.<\/p>\n
Bryans described the Jones College program as blue-collar.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of hard work, day in, day out. They just produce. You go there, you develop. You know if you want to play baseball when you go there, you decide this is what you are meant to do,\u201d Bryans said.<\/p>\n
Thomas said the homecoming is meaningful.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels really good. A lot of families are going to be here. I know that. A lot of fans should be showing up. It\u2019s pretty neat that we get to go over there and handle business and make it to the Super Regionals,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Hattiesburg Regional is Jacksonville State\u2019s first NCAA Regional appearance since 2019.<\/p>\n