Matt Wallner Delivers 10th-Inning Walk-Off Homer over Rice in C-USA Opener

Wednesday, May 22

Biloxi, Miss. (MGM Park)

12:30 p.m.

Southern Miss

35-19

Rice

24-32

Rice

Southern Miss

Matt Wallner Delivers 10th-Inning Walk-Off Homer over Rice in C-USA Opener

5/22/2019 7:09:00 PM | Baseball

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BILOXI, Miss. -- The situation looked fairly grim for Southern Miss going into the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday afternoon in the opening round of The First 2019 C-USA Baseball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve.

Rice had just tacked on another run in the top of the seventh inning, taking a 4-0 lead, a tall order to overcome for a flock of Golden Eagles who had managed just one hit up to that point.

Even after Southern Miss scored a run on three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning and knocked out Rice starter Matt Canterino, the Golden Eagles entered t heir final at-bats down three runs.

No problem.

Highlighted by Storme Cooper's two run double, Southern Miss scored three runs with two outs to tie the game before Matt Wallner lined a two-run home run over the right-field fence, completing an improbable five-run rally over the final two innings Wednesday night as Southern Miss walked off a 6-4 victory.

"I was looking for a pitch up and I was fortunate enough to get that fast ball up, actually the second one, I got a barrel to it and was able to get it out," Wallner said of Southern Miss' fifth walkoff hit of the season. "We fought back and we needed some clutch hits."

Cooper, who had compiled only five hits this season, sent a sharp grounder inside the first base bag to spark the game-tying rally.

"The game of baseball is a game of opportunity," Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. "Stormy has been sitting over there, and seeing a lot more than playing.
"For him, to come up with an opportunity right there and deliver like he did, you can't say enough about that senior."

Matthew Guidry walked to lead off the 10th inning, and one out later, Wallner lashed his 20th home run of the season onto the grassy hill behind the right-field fence.

Wallner became the first Golden Eagle in four consecutive games since B.A Vollmuth turned the trick in 2010.

Cody Carroll (3-2) picked up the pitching win, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Cateniro, the C-USA Pitcher of the Year, went 6 1/3, allowing one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out nine. Reliever Kel Bordwine gave up two runs in a third of an inning.

Rice had built its lead on Andrew Dunlap's sacrifice fly in the first inning, a two-run home run by Trie Cruz in the third inning and Bradley Gneiting's double in the seventh inning.

Leadoff man Barden Comeaux finished with three hits and three runs scored.