University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Win C-USA Title, Will Host Regional
5/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Eagles Win C-USA Title, Will Host Regional
New Orleans, La. -- If you didn't know the circumstances, 7-5 might sound like like just another college baseball score, but Southern Miss' victory over Tulane in the championship game of the Conference USA Tournament here Sunday was anything but routine.
That victory earned head Coach Corky Palmer's team its first-ever C-USA title, and,while the game was in progress, the Golden Eagles learned that they would host an NCAA Regional Tournament, for the first time ever.
First for the game. Southern Miss (45-14) jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, only to see Tulane (43-17) come back to take the lead with three runs in the top of the third frame. The Eagles tied the score in the fifth, Tulane got a single run in the sixth to move back into the lead, 4-3. The lead continued to seesaw as Southern Miss went back in front with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Tulane tied it again with a single run in the seventh, and the Golden Eagles then proceeded to score what may have been their two biggest runs of the season, in the bottom of the eighth. Jarrett Hoffpauir opened the inning by reaching base when he was hit by a pitch. Jason Lowery singled through the left side, and Matt Shepherd was walked to load the bases. Mark Maddox flew out to center, plating Hoffpauir and Cook singled up the middle to score Lowery for the second run of the inning, giving the Golden Eagles a two-run advantage.
Austin Tubb, in his second inning of relief, gave up a single to Brian Bormaster to lead off the ninth inning. He then struck out Jon Kaplan, before forcing Tony Giarratano to fly out to left for the second out. Michael Aubrey, Conference USA Player of the Year, flew out to deep center field to end the game and give Southern Miss the Coneference USA Championship.
Southern Miss finished with two hits, including two each by Maddox, King and Lowery, one of King's was his 22nd home run of the season. Five Southern Miss pitchers limited Tulane to 10 hits, including two extra base hits, both home runs.
Tubb (3-1) earned his third win of the season, pitching the final 1.2 innings, giving up only one hit. The fourth and final Tulane pitcher of the game, Joey Charron, who threw one inning, took the loss, dropping to 3-7.
Four Southern Miss players were named to the all-tournament team, including King, Cook, Lowery and Beau Griffin. King also earned most valuable player honors. This marks the first outright tournament championship for Southern Miss, as the Eagles tied Florida State for the Metro Conference Championship in 1991.
The Golden Eagles will find out who they will be hosting on Monday at 11:30 a.m., ct, and tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m., from the Athletic Ticket Office in the Ferlise Center.
