University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
UAB
Southern Miss Splits Double Header With UAB
5/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 16, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala - The Golden Eagles rebounded from a 6-0 loss in game one to and take game two 8-5 against UAB in Birmingham, Ala. at Young Memorial Field to split the double header.
With the split today and Tulane's loss against Rice the Golden Eagles (38-17, 15-8 CUSA) have secured a second place finish this season in Conference USA. The Golden Eagles will be a two seed in next weeks C-USA Tournament facing off against the seven seed in the 4:00 p.m. game on Wednesday. It appears the UCF has locked up the seven seed for the tournament as well.
"I am extremely proud of this team and the season we have put together at this point," head coach Corky Palmer said. "To finish second in a conference this strong is not an easy task and we have accomplished that despite all the adversity we have faced this season."
Southern Miss won C-USA title in 2003 and this year will mark the first time the Golden Eagles have finished in second place at the end of the regular season, finishing third and fourth numerous times.
GAME ONE RECAP UAB 6- SOUTHERN MISS 0
UAB gave staff ace Barry Bowden his third loss of the season as he threw 6.2 innings allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out eight.
The Golden Eagle offense could not scratch the scoreboard for only the third time this season as Blazer starter Kyle Roberson keep Southern miss off balance allowing only three hits in seven innings of work.
Five different Golden Eagles had a hit in the game and Drew Carson had the only extra base hit with a double in the seventh inning.
Bowden was cruising through the Blazer line up without allowing a hit through the fist eight hitters before the nine-hole hitter Allen Aubin hit a sole home run to left field in the third inning. The home run was only the second long ball that Bowden has allowed this season.
UAB attempted a rally in the bottom of the fourth inning as they loaded the bases on three consecutive singles with one out. Bowden however ended the threat by striking out Billy Lichtner and Aubin to end the threat.
UAB added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on RBI double by Ryan Keedy to right-center field to make the score 2-0.
Southern Miss had their best opportunity in the top of the eight inning as Bo Davis and Brian Dozier singled with two outs, for Dozier it extended his hitting streak to 15 games. James Ewing drew a two-out walk to load the bases but Trey Sutton could not deliver the two-out hit leaving the bases loaded and the Blazers on top 2-0.
UAB added to their lead in the bottom of the eight innings off reliever Jonathan Johnston. Luke Stewart Drew a walk and Phil Bell singles to start the rally. Johnston hit Billy Lichtner to load the bases and followed by hitting Jonathan Merritt with the bases loaded forcing home Stewart. Nick Crawford singled down the left field line to pick up two RBI and break the game open. Johnston unleashed a wild pitch to score Merritt from third and put Southern Miss down 6-0.
Brian Dozier made his first appearance on the mound this season to record the final two outs of the eighth inning.
GAME TWO RECAP SOUTHERN MISS 8- UAB 5
Southern Miss came out in game two swinging putting 15 hits on the board. Brian Dozier and Trey Sutton led the attack with three hits a piece.
Bo Davis and James Ewing each had two hits as well, giving the first four hitters in the Golden Eagle line up 10 of the teams 15 hits in the game. The top four also accounted for five RBI and five runs scored in the game.
Wade Weathers picked up his second win of the season working 2.1 innings in relief of starter Todd McInnis.
Tyler Conn picked up his NCAA leading 16th save of the season by working three innings to finish the game. Conn tied the C-USA single season save mark of 16 saves in a season leaving the bases loaded and the go ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Southern Miss opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as Drew Carson singled and Michael Ewing drew a walk. Both runners cam around to score as Bo Davis ripped his fourth triple of the season off the wall in right-center field to put Southern Miss on top 2-0.
UAB cut the Southern Miss lead in half on an RBI single by Cody McMurry to make the score 2-1 after three innings.
The Blazers tied the game in the bottom of the third as Jonathan Merritt collected his third hit of the game, an RBI single to left-center field to end the day for Todd McInnis.
Sutton put the Golden Eagles right back on top with an RBI single in the top of the fifth innings scoring Dozier who led off the inning with a solid dingle to left field. Chris Matesich added a RBI single to left field with two outs in the inning scoring Sutton from second for a 4-2 Southern Miss lead.
Davis singled up the middle to start a rally in the top of the sixth inning and Dozier executed a perfect hit and run to place runners on the corners with one out. James Ewing picked up the RBI on a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field to score Davis for a three run lead.
UAB added and two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off reliever Wade Weathers as Austin Taylor led off with fly ball a mile high that hit James Ewing right in the glove before falling to the ground and came in to score on a RBI single by Ryan Keedy. The Blazers added another run on a RBI single Cody McMury to put the UAB within one run.
Sutton added his second RBI of the game in the top of the eighth inning with a solid single up the middle scoring Dozier from second base who walked to lead off the inning. Keith Winstead benefited from a funny hop on a hard hit ball at the UAB shortstop with the bases loaded to pick up two RBI as Sutton and Kyle Maxie scored to make the score 8-4.
UAB added a run in the bottom of the ninth off the NCAA's top closer Tyler Conn on an RBI single by Allen Aubin. The run was only the third earned run of the season the Conn has allowed in 32.1 innings of work for an ERA of 0.84.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow for the final game of the regular season at Memorial Field with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
-southernmiss.com-
