JACKSON – The green and red-orange rubber field of Smith-Wills Stadium may be a bit garish, but there’s a good chance Ole Miss and Mississippi State will be back here next year for the 28th meeting of the Mayor’s Trophy Game.

The City of Jackson wants to keep the game and not see it move over to the newer and more refined Trustmark Park in Pearl. They offered each school $25,000 to play here this year.

&#8220Trustmark is great park, but it’s been a great experience for us to play here in Jackson,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. &#8220This is the sixth straight year we’ve been here since the Jackson Senators took over this park.

&#8220They made the necessary upgrades and the Jackson community has rallied around this game. We look forward to be back next year.”

It was hard to argue with the turnstile count. A crowd of 5,836 crammed into Smith-Wills, the sixth biggest since the capital city series started. Ole Miss won the 27th annual contest, 1-0, behind a combined shutout from starter Will Kline and two relievers.

Mississippi State coach Ron Polk was a bit more non-committal.

&#8220Do we want to come back? It doesn’t bother me, but that decision is not in my pay grade,” Polk said in reference that the decision will probably rest with MSU Athletic Director Larry Templeton.

Ole Miss players don’t seem to mind Smith-Wills because they know the crowd support is going to be there.

&#8220The crowd makes this an exciting game, even if it’s just a mid-week game,” said Kline, who got the pitching win Tuesday night, striking out nine. &#8220Our whole team gets up to play someone like Mississippi State. It’s still a rivalry when and wherever we play.”

Former Vicksburg High player and current Ole Miss second baseman Justin Henry doesn’t mind Smith-Wills either, rubber turf included.

&#8220It’s doesn’t matter. The atmosphere is going to be great wherever we play it, but it’s especially better, with a win.”

Still, the artificial surface makes for a challenge for an infielder like Henry.

&#8220It’s definitely different, but I’ve found the bounces to still be pretty true,” Henry said. &#8220The run-up on the ball is pretty quick and I know one ball nearly bounced over my head.”

Tuesday’s 1-0 decision was Ole Miss’ fifth straight in the series and they now have the overall lead at 14-13.