The Southern Miss Golden Eagles kicked off their baseball season with a strong weekend performance, sweeping the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in a four-game series and defeating in-state rivals Mississippi State in mid-week action.
On Sunday, true freshman pitcher Grayden Harris led Southern Miss to a 5-1 victory over Louisiana, throwing five shutout innings. Harris, in his collegiate debut, limited the Ragin’ Cajuns (0-4) to two hits and two walks while striking out two. Five Southern Miss pitchers combined to hold Louisiana to just three hits, securing the sweep at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
The Golden Eagles (5-0) recorded their first four-game sweep since defeating Middle Tennessee in 2021. Harris was followed by one-inning stints from Camden Sunstrom, Michael Fowler, Brooks Willoughby, and Landen Payne, who together allowed one run and three walks while striking out seven batters.
Southern Miss jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the first two innings. Ben Higdon scored the first run after a bunt single and a sacrifice by Ozzie Pratt, with Nick Monistere driving him in. In the second inning, Carson Paetow hit a double, followed by a Joey Urban RBI single. Additional runs came from a passed ball and an RBI single by Higdon.
The Ragin’ Cajuns scored their lone run in the seventh inning when Alex Barrist walked and later scored on an RBI double by Easton Brenner. Southern Miss added one more run on a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
The Golden Eagles continued their winning streak on Tuesday, defeating Mississippi State 3-0 in a shutout. Joey Urban led Southern Miss with three hits, including a home run, while four Golden Eagle pitchers limited the Bulldogs to four hits.
Southern Miss starter Colby Allen (1-0) earned the win, pitching four scoreless innings, striking out five, and walking one. Cal Culpepper, Josh Och, and Landen Payne combined for the final five innings, with Payne striking out the side in the ninth to earn his first save.
The win over Mississippi State marked the Golden Eagles’ first shutout of the Bulldogs since 2019 and brought Southern Miss to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2016. Mississippi State (1-3) suffered their first loss in Hattiesburg since 2018.
Southern Miss continues their homestand with a weekend series against Louisiana Tech, beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Pete Taylor Park.
