University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
South Alabama Downs Southern Miss, 6-5, in 10 Innings
3/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
South Alabama Downs Southern Miss, 6-5, in 10 Innings
MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama's Shane Scoville hit a double to center, scoring Ryan Mulhern from second base in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Jaguars the 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Southern Miss at Stanky Field, tonight.
Down by one as they entered the bottom of the inning, the Jaguars' Erik Smallwood led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. Craig Cole hit a sacrifice to the pitcher, pushing Smallwood to second, before Mulhern singled to right field, scoring Smallwood from second, tying the game at 5-5. Southern Miss' Clint Stoy, the right fielder, trying to throw out Smallwood at the plate, threw the ball errantly down the line allowing Cole to move to second. Mulhern doubled to end the game.
The Golden Eagles took a one-run lead in the top of the 10th after scoring a run. Matt Shepherd led off the inning with single through the right side of the infield, moved to second on Carlos Velasquez's bunt single in the infield and then was out at third when Allen Winningham's bunt attempt to the pitcher was thrown to third to force Shepherd. Jeff Cook singled to right field, scoring Velasquez, putting the Golden Eagles up 5-4.
"They won the game for one reason, " Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "When you look at their wall and see that they have been to 20 NCAA Regionals, it's obvious that they know how to win. This team is just as good as South Alabama, but we haven't learned how to win yet. South Alabama won on tradition, they understand how to win and they know how to win. I think by the season's end we will know how to win."
South Alabama scored six runs on 14 hits and committed one error, while Southern Miss finished with five runs on 10 hits and committed three errors.
Anthony Dewitt dropped to 0-2 with loss, pitching 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out one before Brent Leach came on in relief in the ninth inning. Daniel Stewart started the game, pitching five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out one.
Brian Hurley came on in relief in the sixth inning, pitching two innings, giving up
two runs on three hits. Cliff Russum pitched to three batters, giving up a hit, walking one and the other reached on an error.
Relief pitcher Adam Wood was credited with the win, pitching the final two-thirds of an inning, giving up Cook's hit but forcing Brad Willcutt to line out and Clint King to fly out to center.
Jaguar starter Bert Heath pitched five innings, giving up four runs, two earned, on five hits, walking two and striking out three. Caleb Crosby came on in relief in the sixth inning, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up one run on four hits, walking one and striking out six.
The Jaguars took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning. T.J. Touchstone led off the game with a double off the left field wall, moved to third on Smallwood's ground out to second and then scored on Jansen Rayburn's single up the middle. Mulhern flew out to center, and Jason Gross grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Golden Eagles answered with a run in the top of the second, tying the game at 1-1. Griff Israel led off with a double to left center and moved to third after Stoy was walked and Jarrett Hoffpauir hit a bunt single to load the bases. Jason Lowery reached on a fielder's choice to third, scoring Israel from third. Lowery was thrown out trying to steal second, and Shepherd grounded out to end the inning.
South Alabama scored a run in the bottom of the third, taking a 2-1 lead. With one out in the inning, Smallwood singled through the right side, before Rayburn's double down the left field line, put runners on second and third. Mulhern flew out to center, scoring Smallwood and sending Rayburn to third. Gross grounded out to short to end the inning.
Southern Miss tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth inning, taking a 4-2 lead. With one out in the inning, Lowery singled to center, moved to second on Shepherd's single to right field and both moved to third on a wild pitch. Velasquez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, before Winningham reached on a fielder's choice, when the shortstop had an errant throw skip into centerfield, scoring Lowery and Shepherd. Cook hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Velasquez from third and then was thrown out at second trying to steal.
The Jaguars tied the game in the eighth inning, scoring two runs on three hits. Touchstone led off with a single through the right side, advanced to second on Smallwood's single through the right side and then bases were loaded when Rayburn reached on a fielding error by Southern Miss' Winningham. A Russum wild pitch scored Touchstone and a single to left scored Smallwood, tying the game at 4-4.
Southern Miss hosts Houston in a Conference USA three-game weekend series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. Friday's game starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 2 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. Tickets for the series can be purchased by calling the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK.
