University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Four-Run Inning Propels Indians to win over Southern Miss
3/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Four-Run Inning Propels Indians to win over Southern Miss
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? In a game where runs were hard to come, it was the visiting Louisiana-Monroe Indians who had the upper hand, plating four runs in the sixth inning to hand Southern Miss its second loss in three games, 4-1, Wednesday at Pete Taylor Park.
The Indians (5-8) scored all of their runs with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, finishing the game with four runs off 10 hits and three Southern Miss errors. The Golden Eagles (10-3) had help from two La.-Monroe errors, but mustered just four hits on the afternoon, resulting in one run.
"We didn't play very well," Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "We couldn't get anything done offensively, and they pitched us well. It just didn't work out for us."
After Southern Miss starter Stephen Castleman and Indians' starter Brian Shoup dueled through five scoreless innings, La.-Monroe was the first to strike. With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Jason Lind reached on a single to right field. Joey Wolfe then sent the next Castleman pitch sailing out of the park, putting two runs on the board and giving the Indians the lead. La.-Monroe then followed with three consecutive hits and got help from one Golden Eagle error to score two more runs, extending the lead to 4-0.
The Golden Eagles countered however, plating a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Jeff Cook led off the inning with a walk, and scored three batters later as Jarrett Hoffpauir lined an RBI-double to centerfield. Southern Miss cut the deficit to three runs and had two runners on base, but the team could score no more runs as Indian reliever Lee Graves struck out the next batter and forced one more in a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Golden Eagle reliever Cliff Russum held La.-Monroe scoreless over the final three innings, allowing just two hits, keeping the home team in the game.
Southern Miss would get three more base runners over the next three innings, but Graves and closer Bobby Carro combined for four more strikeouts and never allowed a batter to get past second base, ending all hopes of a comeback.
Castleman (2-1) took the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, on eight hits in six innings of work. He also had four strikeouts.
Clint Stoy was the lone Southern Miss player with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 in the game.
Shoup (1-1) picked up the win after pitching a one-hitter in five innings on the mound. Graves threw two-and-one-third innings of scoreless ball, while Carro earned the save.
Jerad Doty and Jack Skaggs led the Indians with two hits each.
The Golden Eagles continue home play with a three-game series against Eastern Illinois this weekend. The opening game is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
