University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Falls to ULL, 2-0
3/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 2, 2008
Box Score: Southern Miss at ULL 
LAFAYETTE, La - LAFAYETTE, La. - Southern Miss locked up in another pitchers duel in the final day Louisiana Lafayette Tournament, unfortunately the Golden Eagles fell on the wrong end of the decision, failing to Louisiana Lafayette 2-0 Sunday afternoon.
"This was just one of those games where we played well and just did not catch a break," head coach Corky Palmer said. "The wind was blowing in pretty hard from centerfield all game long and neither team made an adjustment and kept hitting flyballs helping out both teams pitchers."
Southern Miss (6-2) starting pitcher Josh Billeaud gave the Golden Eagles every opportunity to stay in the game, throwing seven-and-a-third innings allowing only four hits and two runs while walking one and striking out two.
"Josh pitched very well today, they are a good club and he limited them to just four hits," Palmer added.
Billeaud threw the fourth consecutive quality start for a Golden Eagles starting pitcher.
ULL Starting Pitcher Hunter Moody matched Billeaud throwing seven innings, allowing only four hits and stuck out 10.
Lafayette scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third without the benefit of a hit. Billeaud hit Blaine LaFleur to lead off the inning then walked Cajun shortstop William Long. A failed sacrifice bunt by leadoff hitter Matt Goulas forced LaFleur out at third. ULL tried to hit and run with Justin Robichaux, which failed but turned into a double steal moving base runners to second and third. A slow rolling ground ball to second base hit by Robichaux allowed Long to score from third for a 1-0 ULL lead.
Southern Miss finally broke through with their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth as Drew Carson laid down a perfect bunt on the edge of the grass down the third base line. Southern Miss had five hits in the game, three were bunt singles.
ULl added their second run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a mental error by the Golden Eagles. Long singled to start the inning and was sacrificed to second. He went to third on a fielder's choice. Third baseman Matt Hicks hit what appeared to be an inning ending ground ball down the first baseline but confusion on who would cover the bag and who would field the ball between first baseman Trey Sutton and new pitcher Collin Cargill allowed Hicks to reach first and Long to score from third.
The Golden Eagles will continue the current eight-game road swing at No. 2 Ole Miss Tuesday afternoon, first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Oxford.
-southernmiss.com-
