University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Eagles Stun Nationally-Ranked Nebraska, 6-5
2/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Eagles Stun Nationally-Ranked Nebraska, 6-5
LAKE CHARLES, La. ? After dropping its first game of the season on Saturday, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles bounced back Sunday, stunning nationally-ranked Nebraska on the last day of the Bank One Lake Area Classic in Lake Charles, La.
The Golden Eagles (6-1) scored their final run on a controversial call at the plate, and outfielder Jeff Cook threw the Cornhuskers' Mike Sillman out at the plate for the final out of the game, preserving the upset win.
The victory was Southern Miss' first over a ranked opponent since an early-season win over Louisiana-Monroe in 2001. Nebraska, ranked 11th in the Baseball America Poll, 13th in the Collegiate Baseball Poll and 16th in the USA Today/Baseball Weekly Poll, dropped to 3-3 on the year.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Golden Eagles had the bases loaded with one out as Nebraska's Jeff Blevins picked up a Cook grounder and threw to catcher Jed Morris to get the Golden Eagles' lead runner Matt Benson. Morris bobbled the ball, but the umpires ruled Benson out at the plate. Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer appealed the decision, which was then reversed, giving the Golden Eagles the winning run. Nebraska Head Coach Dave Van Horn then appealed the reversal, resulting in his ejection from the game.
Nebraska held Southern Miss in check over the rest of the inning, keeping the deficit at one run. In the ninth inning, the Cornhuskers' had one final chance as Matt Hopper drove the ball to left field, while Sillman took off from second to score the tying run. Cook then scooped the ball, firing it back to catcher Brad Willcutt to get the runner out and end the game.
"I am proud of the team for bouncing back after the tough loss on Saturday," Palmer said. "It is a real tribute to the players for the way they played against a strong program like Nebraska."
Senior Charlie Rogers (2-0) earned the pitching win, allowing four runs on three hits, while Brian Hurley picked up his first save of the year. Nebraska's Phil Shirek took the loss.
"Charlie (Rogers) pitched effectively throughout the game, and (Brian) Hurley did a tremendous job as a freshman pitching in a big game like this," Palmer said.
Southern Miss got on the board quickly, scoring three runs with two outs in the top of the first inning. After Jose Velasquez popped out to the shortstop, Allen Winningham drew a walk to reach base. Following another out, Willcutt singled to third base, advancing Winningham. Griff Israel then walked to load the bases. Jarrett Hoffpauir knocked an RBI-single through the left side, plating Winningham. Bobby Garner followed with a single of his own, this one to center field, scoring both Willcutt and Israel to give the Golden Eagles the 3-0 lead.
Nebraska could not get on the board until the third inning, where they scored two runs off two hits to cut the deficit to one run. Jeff Leise led off with a double, then scored as Adam Riddle followed with an RBI-single. Riddle scored two batters later off a sacrifice fly by Hopper.
The Cornhuskers knotted the score with another run in the fifth inning, as Joe Simokaitis crossed the plate off Morris' sacrifice fly.
However, Southern Miss regained the lead with two runs in the sixth inning, both off wild pitches by Jason Burch. In the inning, Willcutt led off with a double to right center field, and Israel reached on an error by the leftfielder. Hoffpauir walked to load the bases, and Willcutt and Israel then scored on consecutive wild pitches.
Nebraska inched closer with a run in the seventh inning, for the final scoring until the ninth inning. After Benson scored the final run for Southern Miss, the Cornhuskers went to bat down two runs entering the final frame. Justin Seely scored on a double to center field by Ryan Bonesio for the last run of the game.
Willcutt led the Golden Eagles with a 3-for-5 batting performance, while Winningham, Hoffpauir, Garner and Benson all had hits.
Rogers finished the game with two strikeouts, while Nic Tillbrook had one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning of work. Hurley pitched the final two-and-one-third innings, fanning two batters and allowing four hits.
For Nebraska, Hopper led the way with two hits. Shirek pitched five innings, while Waylon Byers, Burch, Aaron Marsden, Dustin Timm and Brian Duensing all saw action on the mound.
The Golden Eagles return to action facing New Orleans on the road on Tuesday. Southern Miss hosts intrastate rival Ole Miss on Wednesday.
