University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagle Baseball Completes Sweep over Lipscomb
2/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Golden Eagle Baseball Completes Sweep over Lipscomb
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? The Southern Miss Golden Eagle baseball team completed an opening-series sweep over visiting Lipscomb University with a 9-2 win, Sunday, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
Junior Griff Israel came up big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, while senior starter Charlie Rogers and relievers Cliff Russum and Brent Leach combined to allow just two runs on seven hits as Southern Miss improved to 3-0 on the season. With the loss, the Bisons fell to 0-6.
"This was the best game that we have played so far," Golden Eagle Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "I felt we played well all around, and the good pitching we had set the tone."
After a scoreless first inning, Southern Miss jumped on the board as Israel scored off Jarrett Hoffpauir's RBI-single through the left side.
In the third inning, the Golden Eagles' Carlos Velasquez led off with a single to left center and advanced to third on a single by Allen Winningham. After Jeff Cook flew out to center field, Brad Willcutt drew a walk to load the bases. One batter later, Israel cleared the bases with his second double, giving Southern Miss all the scoring it would need. Israel then came home on Bobby Garner's RBI-single for the final run of the inning.
Lipscomb answered though, plating its first run of the game in the fourth inning. Jeremy George opened with a double down the left field line, then scored two batters later following Brent Hastings' sacrifice fly.
However, the Golden Eagles tacked on two more runs in the bottom half of the frame, as Matt Benson and Winningham both crossed the plate.
The Bisons rallied for another run in the fifth inning, as Nick McCorkle scored on Ryan Boyer's RBI groundout.
Those runs would be all that Lipscomb would get, as Rogers (1-0) allowed just four hits over his six innings of work. Rogers also had six strikeouts. Russum pitched two scoreless innings and had two strikeouts, while Leach finished the game out in the ninth.
Matt Edwards (0-2) took the loss for the Bisons, allowing seven runs off eight hits. Drew Townsend, Logan Good and Shawn Sabo each saw action on the mound.
Israel paced all batters with three hits and four RBIs, while Velasquez and Winningham each followed with two hits.
For Lipscomb, George had a team-high two hits.
Southern Miss returns to action Tuesday when its hosts South Alabama at Pete Taylor Park. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
