After winning its Sun Belt conference baseball opening series against Old Dominion University last weekend, the No. 19 ranked Southern Miss Golden Eagles defeated the No. 18 ranked Ole Miss Rebels 6-2 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday night at Trustmark Park in front of 3,498 fans.
Davis Gillespie broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run home run in the fifth inning, leading Southern Miss (15-6) to victory. Gillespie’s homer capped a four-run inning, which also included a run-scoring double from Carson Paetow. The win allowed the Golden Eagles to split the season series with the Rebels (15-5).
The scoring in the decisive fifth inning began when Jake Cook walked with one out. Ozzie Pratt, who had two hits on the night, followed with a single before Gillespie hit a 0-1 pitch from Gunner Dennis over the left field wall. Matthew Russo later scored on Paetow’s two-out double to extend the lead.
Southern Miss took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Cook drew a walk and scored on a double by Pratt down the right field line. Nick Monistere then delivered a two-out single to bring Pratt home.
Ole Miss responded in the third inning when Mitchell Sanford hit a two-run triple, scoring Campbell Smithwick and Brayden Randle, who had both singled earlier in the frame. Despite the rally, Ole Miss struggled to score again.
Southern Miss starter Matt Adams allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings but did not factor into the decision. Chandler Best (1-1) earned the win in relief, retiring the only batter he faced to escape a fifth-inning jam.
Josh Och followed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just two walks. Colby Allen came in to record the final four outs, earning his fifth save despite loading the bases twice in the final two innings.
Dennis (1-1) took the loss for Ole Miss, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings.
Southern Miss returns to action Friday night, opening a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at ULM. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
