University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Hosts Birmingham Southern In Weekend Series
2/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball team (4-1) hosts Birmingham Southern (1-1) in a weekend series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 24-26, with Friday's game starting at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 3 p.m., and Sunday's at 1 p.m.
Friday's and Sunday's game will be carried live by WXRR, Rock 104 (104.5 FM), and Saturday's game can be heard on WXHB, 96.5 FM "The Hub." All broadcasts will be anchored by Rock 104 sports personality, Tom Colt.
All three Southern Miss games will feature "Live Stats", which will be available through SouthernMiss.com by clicking the "Gametracker" link on the front page under the events section.
This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams, and the first opponent that Southern Miss has ever faced from the Big South Conference.
Southern Miss enters the weekend series with a 4-1 record after opening up on Feb. 15 with a 5-2 win over Nicholls State, before claiming the Coca-Cola Classic Championship with wins over Wichita State, 6-5, and Stetson, 6-1, before dropping a 6-3 decision to South Alabama on Sunday. The Golden Eagles won their midweek game on Tuesday, defeating Mississippi Valley State, 11-3 at home.
Because of weather, Birmingham Southern has played only two games. The Panthers played one of three last weekend at Austin Peay, dropping a 3-2 decision on Friday, Feb. 17. Saturday's and Sunday's games were cancelled, because of weather. On Tuesday, Birmingham Southern won 6-0 at Jacksonville State.
On Friday, senior right-hander Cliff Russum (1-0) will pitch for the Golden Eagles against junior right-hander Brandon Hynick (0-0) from Birmingham Southern.
Russum enters the game with a 2.57 ERA after his last outing on opening day against Nicholls State on Feb. 15, where he pitched seven innings, giving up two runs off of five hits, striking out seven, while walking two Hynick boasts a 0.00 ERA after his last outing against Austin Peay in which he pitched in six innings, giving up four hits, fanning 10 and not surrendering a walk.
Southern Miss will send redshirt senior right-hander Scott Massey (1-0) against the Panthers' senior right-hander, David Horne (0-0) in Saturday's contest.
Massey enters Saturday's game with a 3.68 ERA, after recording 7.1 innings of work against Wichita State on Friday, Feb. 17, allowing four runs, three earned, on 10 hits, striking out two and walking two. Horne boasts a 0.00 ERA after appearing in the Jacksonville game on Tuesday, Feb. 21, pitching one inning, striking out one and not giving up a walk.
Southern Miss senior left-hander Brad Owen (1-0) takes the mound for the final game of the series on Sunday against BSU facing either sophomore right-hander Mark Doll (0-0) or junior right-hander Bailey Pratt (0-0).
Owen enters the game with a 1.50 ERA after pitching six innings against Stetson last Saturday, giving up one run on six hits, striking out three and walking one. Doll holds a 0.00 ERA in one appearance this season, pitching in one inning, striking out one batter and not walking any. Pratt also features a 0.00 ERA in one inning of work this season, striking out one and not walking any.
The Golden Eagle offense is led by freshman outfielder Michael Ewing, who is batting .400 with six hits, one double, one home run and six RBIs. He also has collected 10 total bases, has a .375 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage. He leads the team in three statistical categories (batting average, RBIs and slugging percentage) and is tied for the lead in two others (home runs and total bases). Sophomore second baseman Trey Sutton is batting .333 with a team-high eight hits. He has collected 10 total bases, including two doubles, and also has recorded two RBIs. Freshman shortstop Brian Dozier is batting .313 with five hits and four RBIs. He leads the team with a .421 on-base percentage.
The Panthers are led by senior outfielder Scott Billak, who is hitting .500 with three hits, one home run and two RBIs. He leads the team in total bases (6) and slugging percentage (1.000), and has also has one stolen base. Freshman outfielder Mark Goforth is batting .444 with a team-high four hits and one stolen base. Sophomore catcher/outfielder Billy Froehlich is batting .286 with two hits, one triple and two RBIs.
