March 12, 2010

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to take game one of the series over Missouri State with a 4-3 victory in front of 3,082 fane at Pete Taylor Park Friday evening.

"You have to be able to play a game from start to finish," head coach Scott Berry said. "We did not start the way we wanted to but we finished strong and that what we have to be able to do, especially at home."

The first seven innings were a pitchers duel with All-American's on the bump for both teams. Missouri State scratched across one run in the second, for the games only run until the eighth inning for either team.

The Bears (4-8) added single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings while Southern Miss (8-4) scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the eight.

Entering the ninth inning trailing 3-1 the magic of Pete Taylor Park returned. Adam Doleac started the rally with a pinch-hit single and Anthony Doss drew a pinch-hit walk. Marc Bourgeois followed with a single to center field plating Doleac.

With the tying run in scoring position the wheels came off for the Bears defense. Back-to-back errors by first baseman Tyler Ryun and Travis McComack off the bats off Taylor Walker and BA Vollmuth could have possibly got Missouri State out of the inning, but rather allowed the second run of the inning to score and loaded the bases for the Golden Eagles.

Junior first baseman Mark Ellis worked the count full and drove a deep fly ball over the head of the Missouri State right fielder to score Bourgeois, for the game-winning RBI single.

Starting pitching preformed outstanding for both teams in today's tilt. Todd McInnis worked 7.2 innings, allowing two runs in six hits while striking out six.

Missouri State's All-American Aaron Meade worked 7.2 innings allowing one run on five hits while striking out six, though he did walk five Golden Eagle hitters.

It was the bullpens that made the difference in tonight's match up. For Southern Miss freshman Paxton King allowed one run in a third of an inning, though he did not allow a hit. Collin Cargill picked up his first win of the season, throwing one inning, allowing only one hit.

Missouri State reliever Blake Barber worked a third of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits though it was reliever Pierce Johnson that gave up the walk-off single to Ellis.

Missouri State scored the first run of the game in the top of the second as Trevor Rogers walked and went to third on a single down the right field line. He came in to score a RBI fielders choice hit by Tyler Ryun.

The Bears added their second run on a Kevin Medrano sacrifice fly in the eighth for a 2-0 lead.

Southern Miss scratched the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Kameron Brunty to score Ellis.

Missouri State added one more run in the top of the ninth on a RBI single by Ryun before Southern Miss rallied to win it in the ninth.

The two teams will meet for game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at "The Pete," with Scott Copeland getting the start for the Golden Eagles. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.

-southernmiss.com-