University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Houston Downs Southern Miss, 7-6, in 13 Innings
3/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Houston Downs Southern Miss, 7-6, in 13 Innings
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Houston pitcher Jesse Crain scored on Brett Cooley's ground out and then retired the Southern Miss order in the bottom of the inning, giving the Cougars a 7-6 victory in 13 innings, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field today. With the win, Houston wins the series, 2-1.
Crain singled up the middle to lead off the inning, moved to second on Daron Bertillion's sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, moved to third on Hyung Cho's infield single off the pitcher and then scored on Cooley's ground out. Crain (4-0) pitched the final five innings, gaining his second win of the weekend, giving up one hit , one walk and striking out eight.
Houston (21-8, 7-2) scored seven runs on 10 hits and committed four errors, while Southern Miss (18-10, 6-3) scored six runs on eight hits and committed four errors. The Cougars stranded eight base runners, while the Golden Eagles stranded 13.
Anthony Dewitt (0-3) dropped the decision, pitching the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits. Starter Charlie Rogers started the game, giving up five runs on four hits, walking three and striking out five, before Stephen Castleman came on in relief in the eighth, pitching 2.2 innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits, walking one and striking out one. Cliff Russum pitched 1.1 innings, giving up two hits, after coming on in relief in the 10th.
Gene Flores started for Houston, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up four runs on four hits, walking three and striking out two. Nathan Mitchell came on in relief, pitching 3.1 innings, giving up one unearned run on one hit, walking two and striking out two. Hooper pitched two-thirds of an inning and Danny Zell pitched one-third of an inning.
Michael Bourn led the Cougars, hitting 2-for-6, scoring two runs and Carlos Velasquez was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and scoring a run to lead the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss took an early 3-0 lead after two innings, before Houston came back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game. The Golden Eagles scored a run in the fourth and the fifh innings, taking a 5-3 lead. The Cougars struck back, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning, taking the one run lead. Southern Miss scored one in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game until Crain scored the game-winner in the 13th.
In the eighth inning, Houston's Bourn led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then third on a double steal. Anthony Scalise walked and then advanced to second on the double steal. Chris Snyder singled to right field, scoring both Bourn and Scalise and advanced to second on an error by Clint Stoy in right field. Stuart Musselwhite flew out to center, advancing Snyder to third and then scored when Crain flew out to right.
In the bottom of the eighth, Matt Hooper came on in relief for Houston. Clint King was inserted into the lineup as a pinch hitter and hit a home run to left center on the first pitch to tie the game at 6-6.
Houston stranded runners on first and second in the 10th inning and Southern Miss did the same in the 10th inning. The Golden Eagles advanced a runner to third in the 12th but Velasquez struck out to end the threat.
Southern Miss travels to Alabama for a Tuesday game at 6:30 p.m., while Houston hosts Rice on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
