Southern Miss cruises to 8-1 victory over Louisiana
LAFAYETTE – Grayden Harris and Colby Allen combined on a five-hitter with 15 strikeouts as No. 10 Southern Miss capitalized on its opportunities to earn an 8-1 Sun Belt Conference victory over Louisiana in a weather-delayed contest Friday at M.L. ‘Tigue’ Moore Field at Russo Park.
Matthew Russo and Tucker Stockman each hit two-run home runs as the Golden Eagles (25-9, 8-5 SBC) scored in four separate two-run innings. Davis Gillespie led Southern Miss at the plate with three of the team’s seven hits.
The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ with fans able to listen locally on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network.
Harris (6-1) allowed four hits and one run over 6.1 innings, walking one and striking out 10. Allen surrendered just one hit over the final 2.2 innings while striking out five.
Freshman Josh Lim recorded three hits to pace Louisiana (19-15, 4-9 SBC), which finished with five hits. The Cajuns scored their lone run in the seventh inning when Donovan LaSalle doubled and came home on Drew Markle’s RBI single.
Southern Miss opened the scoring in the second inning against Louisiana starter Sawyer Pruitt (2-3). Gillespie singled to lead off the inning before scoring on Russo’s home run to right-center field.
The Golden Eagles added two runs in the fourth without recording a hit, as Pruitt issued five walks in the inning. He was charged with four runs on three hits over 4.0 innings, with six walks and five strikeouts.
Southern Miss extended its lead to 6-0 in the sixth inning when reliever Tyler Papenbrock hit Ben Higdon with a pitch before Stockman delivered a two-run homer to right field. The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the eighth using a single, an error, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly.
Papenbrock allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits in 3.1 innings, walking one and striking out three. Garret Carter gave up one hit over 1.2 innings. Louisiana pitchers combined to allow eight walks while recording 11 strikeouts.
