Southern Miss displayed strong performance on Friday night, defeating Louisiana Tech 8-3 in the first game of their weekend series. The Golden Eagles are now looking to clinch the series victory at “The Love Shack” on Saturday.
With confidence heading into the match, Southern Miss aimed to secure a significant road win while respecting their opponents. Louisiana Tech, equally confident, had expressed a desire to sweep the series, as noted by freshman Casey McCoy, who mentioned the team”s determination to beat Southern Miss.
The game began with a back-and-forth battle, as Southern Miss took an early lead in the first inning. Lead-off hitter Ben Higdon connected for a single off of Louisiana Tech starting pitcher Declan Dahl, paving the way for Joey Urban, who launched a two-run home run to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
However, Louisiana Tech responded in the second inning, with McCoy hitting a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2. The Bulldogs then took a 3-2 lead in the third inning with a run-scoring single.
The fourth inning brought a turning point reminiscent of their earlier matchup against Alabama. Kyle Morrison, the senior second baseman, blasted a three-run home run, allowing Southern Miss to regain the lead at 5-3. The Golden Eagles added three more runs in the eighth inning thanks to timely singles from Davis Gillespie and Seth Smith, concluding the game with an 8-3 victory.
On the mound, senior right-hander Colby Allen faced challenges but managed five strikeouts over 4.2 innings, allowing six hits and throwing 87 pitches. Coach Christian Ostrander opted to bring in senior left-hander Kros Sivley, who secured the win after striking out two batters in 1.2 innings. Junior right-hander Josh Och closed the game, striking out the final five hitters to earn the save.
With Southern Miss currently ranked first in the RPI following this victory, they are set to face in-state rivals Ole Miss and Mississippi State in upcoming games. Although it is early in the season for RPI discussions, the Golden Eagles” strong performance against a tough schedule is noteworthy.
The Golden Eagles aim to extend their winning streak to nine games on Saturday, with the next game at “The Love Shack” scheduled for 4 p.m. The match will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
Stay tuned to Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI for ongoing coverage throughout the weekend.
