Southern Miss Dominates Louisiana in Series Opener
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (VDN) – No. 21 Southern Miss showcased a powerful offensive performance Friday night, defeating Louisiana 11-3 in the first game of their Sun Belt Conference series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
The Golden Eagles, now boasting a record of 36-13 overall and 19-6 in the Sun Belt, achieved their 10th consecutive victory, finishing the game with 15 hits—a statistic they’ve surpassed in 28 games this season. Southern Miss improves to 24-4 when hitting double digits in the hit column.
Key contributors included Joey Urban and Ozzie Pratt, each recording three hits, while Jake Cook, Nick Monistere, Carson Paetow, and Tucker Stockman chipped in with two hits apiece. The offensive prowess allowed the team to score in six separate innings.
The game initially took a turn in the second inning when Southern Miss starter JB Middleton gave up three runs to the Ragin’ Cajuns (25-25, 15-10) for a 3-1 deficit. However, Middleton settled down, not allowing another hit for the remainder of his outing, ultimately improving his record to 9-1. He concluded the night with three runs allowed on three hits, three walks, and an impressive 10 strikeouts.
Southern Miss struck first with a run in the opening inning thanks to a Paetow single. Following UL’s brief lead, Pratt homered to tie the game before the Golden Eagles took control with three runs in the fourth inning led by Monistere’s two-run single.
Further adding to their tally, Southern Miss saw Urban hit a leadoff homer in the fifth, marking the team’s 17th consecutive game with a home run. The Golden Eagles will look to continue their momentum as they face Louisiana in a rematch Saturday at 3 p.m.
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