A clutch hit by Rodrigo Montenegro in the bottom of the eighth sparked a six-run inning that lifted Southern Miss past Southeastern Louisiana 10-6. 

“I’m proud of our guys to stay the course. Steady win the race. We came out early and scored three runs, but credit Southeastern they didn’t go away…. real proud of the way our guys competed.” Berry said. 

After claiming a road series at Troy, this game had trap game written all over it, with Southeastern Louisiana generally being able to compete at this level of baseball. However, Southern Miss was able to come out early and jump out in front thanks to a Carson Paetow home run in the bottom of the second. 

“Here lately, Coach Berry has been preaching to trust the process and just be consistent.” Paetow said. 

Paetow has been struggling to start the season, a guy who hit 16 home runs last year, just three this year, including tonight. However, lately, he has come on, including tonight, going 3-4 with an RBI. 

“It’s no secret that I have started off slow this season. I’m really trying to focus on my mentals and relax and remember that it’s just a kid’s game. We’re just older kids trying to play a kid game and trying to have fun.” Paetow said. 

This lineup will be scary if the Golden Eagles can get him going consistently. 

After Paetow’s bomb, Creek Robertson batted in two runs on a 2RBI-single in the bottom of the third to give Southern Miss a 3-0 lead. It was smooth sailing until the fifth inning when starting Golden Eagle pitcher. 

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Dima Mixon

That is when the Lions started to get some things going. They scored back-to-back-to-back two-run innings to take a 6-4 lead going into the eighth inning. Southern Miss only had one run in the pan of those innings from a Blake Johnson solo home run. 

But, in the eighth, Southern Miss roared back. Paetow led off with a walk, and Johnson followed with a single, and from then on, it was all Southern Miss. Brady Faust dropped down a superb bunt to load the bases with no outs. Furthermore, after Danny Lynch lined out, Berry called for Montenegro to pinch-hit for Robertson in a prominent spot. 

“We just felt like it was going to be a better matchup for him than Creek. That guy was throwing 94, 95, hit some 96’s, and Rodrigo can really turn around velo. He’s pretty good with that velocity.” Berry said. 

Montenegro turned around a velo pitch, as he came out with a 2RBI-single to tie the game in the eighth for Southern Miss. 

“I know when there is a big hit type situation it’s going to be my chance. I saw that that was going to come up and I was ready for it.” Montenegro said. 

The two RBIs sparked a big inning for Southern Miss. After Montenegro, Etzel walked, and Ewing walked, which gave him an RBI to give Southern Miss the lead. Then, two passed balls extended Southern Miss’s lead to 9-6 before Slade Wilks added another RBI to his column with an RBI single to make the score 10-6. 

Kros Sivley won Southern Miss, his second on the year, after coming in and working two scoreless frames. He has been the most consistent and best weapon out of the bullpen this season for Southern Miss. 

“He’s got tremendous poise, and tremendous confidence. What I like about him is he’s almost got blinders on. He’s really focused on what he’s doing, he’s not distracted by any situation.” Berry said. 

Southern Miss improves to 17-10, 5-4 in conference play. They head to Norfolk, Virginia, for big road series at Old Dominion this week. 

In other News

– Berry confirmed that Dustin Dickerson was serving a suspension from the league tonight, and that is why he did not play. 

– Berry said they hope to have Tate Parker (oblique strain) back by Thursday for a series against Old Dominion.