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PrintApril 1, 2008
Hattiesburg, MS (UWIRE) -- Southern made history Sunday evening.
Rice was handed their first league series loss since joining the conference in March 2005 after the Golden Eagles won Sunday's game 8-7. Rice had won 26 consecutive league series. Southern Miss also won Friday and lost Saturday.
"We had told the team going in that Rice had never lost a three-game series in the league," USM coach Corky Palmer said. "We tried to give them some motivation. They played real hard. To come back from being down 5-2, they hung with it. I'm proud of the way we played."
With the scored tied 7-7 after eight innings, the Golden Eagles (19-7, 4-2 C-USA) scored what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the ninth.
Bo Davis drew a walk, and Trey Sutton, who doubled three times Sunday, followed with a single to right field to move Davis into scoring position on third. Sutton's hit ended the day for Rice reliever Cole St. Clair and Bryan Price came to the mound. Price uncorked a wild pitch with James Ewing at the plate and Davis went home.
Southern Miss took the lead in the top of the ninth inning as Davis drew a lead off walk, and Sutton followed with a single to right field to move Davis to third with one out and chase St. Clair from the game for new pitcher Bryan Price.
Southern Miss Tyler Conn earned his NCAA leading eighth save after striking out the last two Owl batters with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the win for the Golden Eagles.
"He had a virus, had been under the weather," Palmer said. "I think he was overthrowing a little bit. But he bore down and punched two guys out with the bases loaded at the end of game.
"We were excited."
The Golden Eagles finished with 13 hits, lead by Sutton who went four-for-five. Kyle Maxie and Drew Carson each had a hit and both knocked in two runs.
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"We got some big hits in the middle innings to tie it," Palmer said. "We stayed with the plan. (Wade) Weathers did a super job when (starting pitcher Todd) McInnis got tired. He gave us a shot to get to Conn."
Wade Weather (1-1) picked up his first career win throwing 2.2 innings without allowing a hit. Todd McInnis had a better start than the numbers will show, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings.
Southern Miss will return to action in non-conference play with Troy coming to town for games tonight and Wednesday.
(C) 2008 The Student Printz via UWIRE
