University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Advance With 18-0 Win Over Murray State
5/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Eagles Advance With 18-0 Win Over Murray State
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- No. 2 Southern Miss overcame its first-round upset with an 18-0 victory over No. 4 Murray State, today, and the Eagles advance to tonight's 7 p.m. game against the loser of the Baylor-Southern University game, which starts at 3 p.m.
Playing as the visiting team, Southern Miss (46-15) opened up with a nine-run production in the top of the first inning. Marc Maddox doubled in Matt Shepherd to start the rally, and three consecutive singles by Jeff Cook, Clint King and Jarrett Hoffpauir increased the lead to 5-0.
The Eagles batted around in the first frame, and Maddox collected two additional RBIs with a single on his second at bat of the inning. Cook also added another RBI with a sacrifice fly, concluding the scorefest.
Cliff Russum pitched the complete-game shutout for Southern Miss. He improved to 8-5 on the year, while tossing a six-hitter with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Cook and Maddox were USM's top hitters of the game, as Cook hit 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, his 22nd home run of the season and four RBIs. Maddox finished 3-for-6 with two runs, two doubles and four RBIs.
Hoffpauir batted 2-for-5 with two runs, a home run and three RBIs. Shepherd was 2-for-4 with four runs, a double, a home run and two RBIs.
Charlie Ward and Brett McCutchan led Murray State (25-31) in hitting. Ward hit 2-for-3, and McCutchan was 2-for-4.
MSU starting pitcher Craig Ringwald (5-5) recorded the loss. He faced six hitters in the first inning and gave up four hits, six runs and two walks. The Thoroughbreds were eliminated from the NCAA Regional.
POSTGAME NOTES
Southern Miss
Today marked the 19th time this season that Southern Miss has scored 10 or more runs in a game.
Jeff Cook?s eighth inning home run allowed he, Clint King and Brad Willcutt to move into a tie as the most prolific home run trio in USM history. Cook and King each have 22 homers and Willcutt has 11 for a total of 55.
In the 1988 season, Sedgewick McCollum (20), Doug Cronk (18) and Fred Colley (17) combined for 55 homers.
USM?s 1-2-3 hitters, Matt Shepherd. Marc Maddox and Jeff Cook, combined to go 8-for-13 with eight runs scored. They hit two home runs, four doubles and had 10 RBI.
Designated hitter Adam Smith was the only Golden Eagle starter that did not record at least one hit. However, he did reach base twice on walks and had just one official at-bat before being relieved by Griff Israel.
Cliff Russum threw his fourth complete game and second shutout of the season. With his eight victory, he moved into a tie with Anthony DeWitt for second on the USM staff in wins.
With five doubles today, Southern Miss has recorded 135 on the season, the third-most in school history. They need just three more to tie the 1991 team that produced 138. Seven different players have now recorded 10 or more doubles.
The Golden Eagles have now scored double-digit runs in all four of their all-time NCAA victories. USM posted 20-13 and 10-9 victories over South Alabama in the 1999 Regional at Tuscaloosa and a 14-10 win over Southwestern Louisiana in 1990 at the Baton Rouge Regional.
The 18-0 win marked the largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game in Conference USA history. It was also just the fourth time that a C-USA team has posted a shutout in NCAA play.
Today?s attendance of 3,757 ranks as the ninth-largest crowd in Pete Taylor Park history.
Murray State
Today marked the final game for Mike Thieke as head coach of the Thoroughbreds. The Murray State graduate posted a record of 231-293-2 in 10 years at Murray State.
Senior 1B Brett McCutchan closed out his Murray State career with a pair of hits, his 20th multiple hit game this season.
The 18 runs allowed today were the most given up by Murray State this season. Memphis had scored 14 against the Thoroughbreds on March 11.
Southern Miss-Murray State Quotes
Murray State
Coach Mike Thieke, on the game:
You have to tip your hat to USM. They put us away early, chose their pitches, were fired up and came out ready to compete.
Coach Thieke, on coaching his last game as he enters retirement:
I wasn?t even thinking about it. I had my mind on my team, and I was proud of them down to the very last pitch.
Brett McCutchan, on having played his last game at MSU:
Its been an unbelievable experience. Making it to, and being able to play in this regional was just the icing on the cake.
Pitcher Craig Ringwald, on how USM responded to his pitching:
They were very selective. They knew what they could and couldn?t hit and just jumped all over it.
Coach Thieke, on USM hosting the regional:
Let me just say that USM did an excellent job hosting this tournament. They catered to our every need and desire, from the most tedious matters down to the smallest things. Out of the three other regionals I?ve been to while here at MSU, Southern Miss has been the best, going above and beyond as hosts to cater to us. We may have been the first team to be eliminated, but I certainly appreciate Southern Miss?s professional handling of this event.
Southern Miss
Coach Corky Palmer:
We got out there early, got things going and it just snowballed from there. We kept swinging the bat and getting where we wanted.
Jeff Cook, on USM?s early surge:
It was actually good to be the visitor this time, mentally. We came out hitting immediately and scored some runs, which gave us the chance to establish ourselves and set the tone early in the game.
Pitcher Cliff Russum, on how he felt on the mound:
I was able to get in the groove thanks to the hitters. Their support took a lot of pressure off me.
