Box Score (PDF)
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team had a lead during the middle innings, but Southern Miss rallied late, scoring five runs over the final three innings to complete the series sweep with a 6-4 win in game three. Eastern Illinois drops to 0-3 on the season as USM improves to 3-0. The EIU baseball team will travel to No. 3 Vanderbilt this Wednesday (Feb. 24) at 4 p.m.
Brendon Allen and Kirk McCarty both started on the mound in game three and cruised through the first three innings, as a
Jimmy Govern single was the only baserunner EIU had in the first three frames.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Southern Miss outfielder Daniel Keating bunted for a hit and reached successfully. The Golden Eagles manufactured their run in the inning as Keating moved up on a wild pitch and a groundball hit behind him. Keating then found his way home on a wild pitch to put USM on top 1-0.
The Panthers responded with a run of their own in the fifth inning.
Jason Scholl found his way on with a single to right field. He was quickly erased however as USM turned two on the next play. With two away,
Frankie Perrone doubled to the left centerfield gap, and came around to score on a
Cale Hennemann single to knot the score at 1-1.
The first three batters reached base to begin the sixth inning for EIU. Govern walked to lead off the inning. He then moved up to third on a
Tyler Tesmond double down the left field line.
Joseph Duncan followed with a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch brought Govern into score, as Tesmond and Duncan moved up to second and third on the play.
Mitch Gasbarro was hit by a pitch and loaded the bases once more for the Panthers. Scholl drove in Tesmond and Duncan with a single to center to put EIU ahead 4-1.
Back-to-back hit by pitches started the bottom half of the sixth for USM. A fielder's choice put the runners at first and third for the Golden Eagles. Keating hit a fly ball to right field that was deep enough to bring in Hunter Slater and cut the EIU lead to 4-2.
The Golden Eagles timed up EIU reliever
Andy Fisher (0-1) in the seventh inning. USM scored two runs in the frame, as Taylor Braley hit a solo home run, his third of the weekend, to tie the score at 4-4. Â
Nick Dawson and Tim Lynch homered for the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the eighth inning to give USM a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame.
With two away, Hennemann singled to right center to give the Panthers one more shot in the ninth inning, but was the only baserunner the Panthers had in the final inning.
Cody Livingston (1-0) was the winning pitcher for USM, giving up just one hit in his two innings of work to close the game.
Allen went 5.2 innings strong in the no decision for his first start of the year for EIU. He gave up two runs and one hit.
The Panthers outhit the Golden Eagles 8-6, as Hennemann (2-for-3) and Scholl (2-for-4) led the Panthers offense.Â
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