HATTIESBURG – The opening weekend series between No. 20 Southern Miss and UC Santa Barbara delivered more excitement than anticipated, culminating in a remarkable series victory for the Golden Eagles. After facing a challenging start, including a loss in the first game and a four-run deficit in the second, Southern Miss emerged victorious with a 6-5 walk-off win in the rubber match held at Pete Taylor Park.
“That”s a really good team,” said Southern Miss head coach Christian Ostrander regarding UC Santa Barbara”s performance. “I think that offense is gonna do good things for that team, especially with that pitching staff. … They made it hard. Every pitch this weekend made it feel like you couldn”t make a mistake. So, hats off to them. They do a great job. First-class program, and I wish them all the best.”
With the series on the line, Southern Miss sophomore third baseman Drey Barrett energized the crowd by hitting a solo home run into The Roost in right field, giving his team a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. Barrett led the Golden Eagles with two hits in four at-bats, seemingly securing the game-winning run. However, the Gauchos had other plans. In a dramatic turn of events, after an error by sophomore shortstop Ty Long, UC Santa Barbara tied the game 5-5 with a triple from senior designated hitter Cole Kosciusko.
The tension in the packed stadium was palpable as Southern Miss closer Camden Clark, who had been dominant throughout the weekend, faced the challenge of keeping the game tied. Coach Ostrander praised Clark”s ability to maintain composure under pressure, noting, “The common person would probably deflate, because he”s running on adrenaline. … That punch-out he got there to end that inning and keep that runner at third was huge.”
In the bottom of the ninth, junior catcher Tucker Stockman ignited the Golden Eagles” hopes with a leadoff single, followed by Long redeeming himself with a walk. With two runners on base and senior center fielder Joey Urban at the plate, UC Santa Barbara head coach Andrew Checketts opted to intentionally walk Urban to load the bases. This decision set the stage for senior first baseman Matthew Russo, who had already homered earlier in the game. Gauchos junior left-handed pitcher Nic Peterson walked Russo with the bases loaded, allowing pinch runner Seth Smith to score the game-winning run.
The celebration erupted as the lights at Pete Taylor Park flashed and the crowd cheered, marking a significant series victory for Southern Miss to kick off the season.
In addition to the thrilling conclusion, one of the standout performances during the weekend came from freshman right-handed pitcher Dylan Causey. He was called upon in a high-pressure situation during the eighth inning of a tie game. Causey successfully navigated the challenge by getting a key out on a bunt and striking out the next two batters, showcasing his potential for the future. “We had confidence in him,” stated Coach Ostrander. “That moment is just gonna catapult his career in my opinion.”
The weekend also saw Southern Miss break attendance records, with a total of 16,518 fans attending the series, averaging about 5,500 per game, which exceeds the stadium”s listed capacity. The atmosphere at Pete Taylor Park was electric, reminiscent of postseason baseball, as the Golden Eagles fans reveled in the excitement of early-season drama.
Next, Southern Miss will take to the road to face Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, LA, on Tuesday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 PM and the game to be broadcast on ESPN+.
