University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Sam Houston State
Baseball Loses Extra-Inning Thriller; Eliminated from NCAA Tournament
6/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 3, 2007
OXFORD, Miss. - Sam Houston State's Bobby Verbick delivered a two-out, game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th as the Bearkats overcame an early deficit to defeat Southern Miss, 12-11, here Sunday afternoon and eliminate the Golden Eagles here in the NCAA Baseball Regional at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
The Golden Eagles (39-23) led by as many as 7-1 after six and a half innings, but the Bearkats rallied scored 11 runs over the final five innings - tallying at least one run in each frame - including two in the 11th to lift SHSU (40-23) to the victory. The Bearkats now meet Ole Miss in the championship round later Sunday.
Chris Matesich, who notched his first four-hit game of his career including his first home run of the season with two outs in the top of the 11th, gave the Golden Eagles the advantage 11-10 advantage in the top of the frame. Matesich also led the Golden Eagles with three RBIs.
Heading into the final inning, Golden Eagle reliever J.R. Ballinger retired the first two batters, but then allowed a pair of singles.
Southern Miss then went to its bullpen and Ryan Belanger - the Golden Eagles' starter Friday afternoon against Troy. Belanger's first hitter, Keith Stein, who finished with five hits in the contest, delivered the game-tying single before Verbick notched the game winner.
Luke Adkins added four hits for the Golden Eagles, while Brian Dozier and Jordan King added two safeties apiece.
Keith Winstead tried to give the Golden Eagles the victory in the ninth with a two-run double and Drew Carson added an RBI single in the 10th to put Southern Miss up in each frame, but each time the Bearkats matched the Golden Eagle run total.
Luke Prihoda threw the final three innings for the Bearkats to garner the victory and improve to 7-3. Prihoda allowed three runs on four hits with a strikeout. Ballinger suffered the loss and fell to 1-2.
