University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Marshall
Baseball Defeats Marshall on Tyler Koelling's Walk Off Single
4/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - For the second Sunday in three weeks, Southern Miss came from behind and won in dramatic fashion with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Two weeks ago it was Joey Archer's walk over single that propelled Southern Miss over No. 7 Rice and today it was Tyler Koelling, who singled off the centerfield wall to plate the winning run as Southern Miss defeated Marshall, 8-7.
"This was a very tough series against a very tough Marshall team," head coach Corky Palmer said. "I am very proud of our team to come back like we did today and find a way to win."
Southern Miss fell behind early spotting Marshall four runs in the top of the first inning and trailed by as much as 6-2 in the third inning. The Golden Eagles fought back and took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning but Marshall would tie the game once again in the top of the ninth before Southern Miss won in the bottom of the frame.
Southern Miss was led at the plate today by Bo Davis who was a perfect four-for-four including a triple, RBI and two runs scored. James Ewing was two-for-three on the afternoon with a two-run home run, three RBI and a run scored and Brian Dozier added in two hits as well.
On the mound starting pitcher Kyle Lindsey did not fare well the start but Scott Copeland and Cody Schlagel were outstanding out of the bullpen.
Copeland worked four innings, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out four. Schlagel worked 2.2 innings allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.
"Copleand and Schlagel was tremendous today and gave us a chance to win by keeping us in the game this afternoon, they both threw a lot this week and was a key to us winning today."
Collin Cargill picked up the win working 0.2 innings allowing only one hit despite still suffering from the line drive he took in the chest in Friday's game.
Marshall struck in the top of the first for four runs on four hits highlighted by RBI singles from Victor Gomez, Thor Meeks and a two-RBI single by Brandon Cassmassima.
Southern Miss was able to get one of those runs back on three consecutive two-out singles. Bo Davis legged out an infield single, James Ewing hit a soft fly ball they fell down the right field line and Joey Archer delivered an RBI single through the right side to score Davis from third.
Marshall struck again in the top of the second as Ben Jerevicious delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Nate Lape, ending the day for Southern Miss starter Kyle Lindsey.
Lindsey worked 1.2 innings, which was his shortest start of the year, allowing five runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Southern Miss added another run in the bottom of the second as Kameron Brunty was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a Taylor Walker RBI single through the left side of the infield.
Marshall scored for the third consecutive inning as Lape hit a RBI single through the right side of the infield to put Marshall up 6-2.
In the bottom of the third inning Bo Davis led off with a triple, his third of the season and 14th of his career, which set a new school record for career triples breaking Chad Herbert's previous record set in 1992.
James Ewing followed with a towering home run to left-center field, his third of the season to cut the Marshall lead to 6-4.
Southern Miss tied the game at six in the bottom of the fifth, once again putting together a two out rally. Travis Graves singled through the right side to start the rally and Tyler Koelling drew a walk. With two outs Brian Dozier doubled off the right field wall to score Graves and cut the Marshall lead down to one run.
Bo Davis then plated Dozier with a RBI single to right field tying the game at six, capping the come back after being down 6-2 early.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Brian Dozier became only the second player in school history to accumulate 300 career hits with a solid single up the middle. He joins Trey Sutton as the only other member of the Golden Eagle 300 career hit club, Sutton accomplished the feat last season.
Southern Miss took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning as Taylor Walker and Bo Davis reached on walks. Brian Dozier laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners in scoring position and James Ewing delivered a sacrifice fly to score Walker and put Southern Miss up 7-6.
The Golden Eagle lead was short lived as Victor Gomez hit a solo home run to re-tie the game in the top of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Adam Doleac drew a walk to start the inning. Nick Smith entered as a pinch runner and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kameron Brunty. Kyle Maxie grounded out to the right side to move Smith over to third base with two outs.
Koelling worked a three-two count and drilled the two-out pitch over the head of Marshall centerfielder Nate Lape, who almost made a spectacular catch to preserve the tie, to score Smith and seal the victory for the Eagles.
Southern Miss returns to action on Wednesday at they travel to Mississippi State, a game that will be televised regionally on CSS. First pitch is set for 6:30.
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