Why Scott Berry believes Southern Miss baseball deserves to host super regional vs Tennessee

AUBURN, Ala. — Southern Miss baseball coach Scott Berry said before the NCAA Tournament field was announced that he felt his Golden Eagles deserved to host a regional. Instead, the committee sent USM on the road to the Auburn Regional, and the Golden Eagles won it anyway with a decisive 11-7 victory over Penn on Monday.

Now, Berry is firm in his belief that USM deserves to host a super regional at Pete Taylor Park. The Golden Eagles are paired with Tennessee, which also came through its regional as a No. 2 seed.

A meeting is scheduled for Monday night to determine where that super regional will be played.

"I was disappointed we didn't get a regional," Berry said postgame Monday. "But I understand that RPI is the factor that determines that. I thought our resume was certainly worthy of that."

NCAA media representative Jeff Williams told the Knoxville News Sentinel that the committee will weigh the “merits of the bids" to determine who will host.

USM began the NCAA Tournament with an RPI of 21 – with Tennessee at 20. After Monday’s action, USM’s RPI sat at 18 to Tennessee’s 12. 

"I don't know if they draw experience from last year and the turnout at Pete Taylor Park and the experience that everybody had even though we were on the losing end," Berry said. "It was a well-run tournament that was heavily, heavily attended. Probably one of the largest attended super regionals that there was last year, and no doubt it'll be that and more this year."

Southern Miss averaged 5,472 fans at its super regional against Ole Miss last season. Tennessee drew 4,593 on average in its super regional against Notre Dame.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BERRY:A legend's victory lap: What Scott Berry's legacy looks like inside Southern Miss baseball

PENN RECAP:Southern Miss baseball beats Penn to win NCAA Tournament's Auburn Regional

SUPERS:Will Southern Miss baseball host super regional? What to know about the NCAA process

David Eckert covers sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.