University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Long Ball Leads Baseball to Victory Over South Alabama
2/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Long Ball Leads Baseball to Victory Over South Alabama
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Carlos Velasquez hit a two-out two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning, giving Southern Miss a 4-3 lead, and Bobby Garner hit a two-run homer to left center field the next inning, leading the Golden Eagles to a 7-3 victory over South Alabama, today, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. With the victory, the Golden Eagles run their record to 4-0, marking the best start under Corky Palmer.
Southern Miss (4-0) also benefitted from the pitching arm of starter Stephen Castleman (1-0), who picked up his first victory of the season, pitching 7.0 innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on four hits, walking one and striking out six. Anthony Dewitt pitched the final two innings, holding the Jaguars hitless.
South Alabama (4-3) scored two runs in the first inning. T.J. Touchstone led off the game with a single and then reached second on an fielding error by Jarrett Hoffpauir. After Ryan Mulhern struck out, and Erik Smallwood grounded out to the pitcher, Kyle Stanky singled to center field, driving in two unearned runs for the Jaguars.
Southern Miss tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Velasquez led off the inning with a single down the right field line, and Jeff Cook hit a one-out single to center. After Brad Willcutt walked to load the bases, Griff Israel doubled down the right field line, driving in Velasquez and Cook, tying the game at 2-2.
The Jaguars took a one-run 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth, when Stanky hit a one-out solo homer to left center. The Golden Eagles answered with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-3 lead, the final outcome.
Garner reached first in the bottom of the fourth inning on an error by second baseman, J.T. Hardcastle. After Hoffpauir struck out and Matt Benson grounded out to the pitcher, Velasquez homered to account for both runs.
In the fifth, Cook reached base on the second error by Hardcastle. He stole second and advanced to third on Israel's ground out to first. Clint Stoy singled to right center, plating Cook and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, before Garner homered to left center to account for two more runs.
Velasquez led all hitters with three hits in five at bats, collected two RBIs and scored two runs. Israel went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Garner collected two RBIs. Stanky led the Jaguars with his 2-for-3 performance at the plate, scoring one run and driving in three runs.
South Alabama starter Clark Giradeau (2-1) took the loss for the Jaguars. He pitched five innings, giving up seven runs, two earned on nine hits, walking one and striking out six. Adam Wood came on in relief in the sixth inning, pitching the final three innings, giving up one hit and walking two.
The Golden Eagles travel to Lake Charles, La., for a three-game weekend tournament at McNeese State. Southern Miss faces Louisiana-Monroe on Friday at 3 p.m., McNeese State on Saturday at 5 p.m., and Nebraska on Sunday at 11 a.m.
