Rice Rides Four-Run First to Series Win over Southern Miss Sunday

Sunday, May 12

Houston, TX

1 p.m.

Southern Miss

32-17, 19-8

Rice

23-28, 14-13

Southern Miss

Rice

Photo by: Joe Harper

Rice Rides Four-Run First to Series Win over Southern Miss Sunday

5/12/2019 4:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Cumulative Stats

HOUSTON – Andrew Dunlap drove in two with a single and Justin Collins added a two-run home run to cap a four-run first inning as Rice picked up a 7-2 Conference USA victory over Southern Miss Sunday at Reckling Park clinching the series win.

With Florida Atlantic's win at UTSA on Sunday, the Golden Eagles (32-17, 19-8 C-USA) and FAU are tied at the top of the league standings with three games to play. Southern Miss entertains UAB next Thursday to Saturday while the Owls welcome Middle Tennessee to Boca Raton.

The Golden Eagles got nine hits in the contest as Gabe Montenegro, Cole Donaldson and Will McGillis led the way with two singles each, but the visitors left 11 runners on bases, including two runs in each of three of the final four innings.

Rice (23-28, 14-13) collected all four first-inning runs off of Golden Eagle starter Jarod Wright, who gave up four hits and faced six batters while getting two outs. Wright suffered the loss and fell to 0-3 on the season.

Cody Carroll then gave Southern Miss six strong relief innings, only allowing a two-run homer to Cade Edwards in the sixth. The Owls added a solo run in the eight on a RBI double from Collins off of J.C. Keys to extend the lead.

Owl starter Jackson Parthasarthy (4-7) limited the Eagles to a run on seven hits and two walks over 7 1/3 innings with five strikeouts to earn the victory. After Dalton Wood came in and walked two Golden Eagles, Garrett Wood came
in and threw the final 2 2/3 innings, which included fanning the side in the ninth.

Southern Miss scored their lone runs in the seventh as McGillis singled with one out. After back-to-back walks, McGillis scored on a wild pitch and Hunter Slater knocked in a run with a single.

The Golden Eagles returned home for four final home games to end the regular season, starting Tuesday with a makeup game against Troy at Pete Taylor Park. Game time is set for 6 p.m.