University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Wins Series Opener Over La. Tech 5-4
3/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss used a four run second inning and a solo home run by Kameron Brunty in the fourth to defeat Louisiana Tech 5-4 Friday evening in the opener of a three game series at Pete Taylor Park.
"Tonight was a good win in a hard fought college baseball game," head coach Corky Palmer said. "We had a clean night defensively which is always a good thing and Tech is a much improved team from last season when they were pretty young. This will be a tough series for us the next two days."
Brian Dozier led the offensive attack with a three-for-three night at the plate, extending his hit streak to 14 on the season and 16 dating back to last season. He also drew a walk and was hit by a pitch raising while his batting average to .448 on the season.
Senior Corey Stevens added in two hits and a run scored and freshman Kameron Brunty hit his second home run of the season while driving in two runs on the night.
La Tech (8-4) jumped on the board early as leadoff hitter Patrick Thomas drilled the second pitch of the game off Southern Miss starter JR Ballinger over the right-center field wall for a solo home run and an early 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the top of the second as Nick Grunewald led off with a double down the left field and came around to score on a RBI ground out by Kyle Roliard to give Tech a 2-0 lead.
Southern Miss (10-4) took the lead in the bottom of the second scoring four unearned runs on two La. Tech errors. Corey Stevens started the rally with a leadoff double to right-center field. Josh Fields was hit by a John Anderson pitch to put runners at first and second with no one out. Travis Graves laid down a sacrifice bunt and Anderson overthrew third base to allow Stevens to score.
Taylor Walker followed with a ground ball to third base but Tech catcher Matt Combs dropped the throw on a play at the plate allowing Fields to score the second run of the inning. Kameron Brunty picked up an RBI as his groundout to second base allowed Graves to score from third and Brian Dozier extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a RBI single to right field scoring Walker and extending the Southern Miss lead to 4-2.
Kameron Brunty added to the Southern Miss lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, his second of the season to make the score 5-2.
JR Ballinger picked up the win working 5.2 innings allowing eight hits and two runs while striking out four and walking two. He also left seven runners stranded once they reached base.
"JR did not have his best stuff tonight but he gave us a chance tonight, I have seen him better in his career but he gave us a winning effort tonight," Palmer added.
Devon Dageford cut the Southern Miss lead to one run with a two-out two-run home run to left-center field in the top of the seventh off Wade Weathers to make the score 5-4.
Collin Cargill picked up his second save in as many games working 1.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit while walking one.
"Cargill really wants the closer role and the last three outing he has thrown very well so he is going to be our guy we will use in that closer role for now," Palmer said.
The two teams will play game two of the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. junior RHP Kyle Lindsey (1-0, 0.60 ERA) will get the start for Southern Miss and Freshman RHP Jeb Stefan (2-0, 2.87 ERA) will toe the rubber for La. Tech.
With impending weather in the Hattiesburg area Southern Miss fans are encouraged to call the Gameday Hotline at 601.266.7411 for the latest news dealing with any weather situations through the weekend.
-southernmiss.com-
