Junior Cody Carroll pitches for the Golden Eagles as the Men’s baseball team wins two of the three games against Troy in Alabama this weekend.-Courtesy Photo
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles traveled to Alabama for a weekend series against Troy, resulting in a series win over the Trojans.
In game one, Troy quickly jumped ahead of the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the first inning.
Trojans’ Nick Masonia singled to the left side on a 3-2 count and then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Christian Talley. Logan Hill then crushed the ball over the center field fence for a two-run home run, giving the Trojans an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Troy scored another run on an RBI groundout by Matt Sanders increasing their lead over USM to 3-0.
Southern Miss was able to get runners on base for the third inning in a row, but could not score. After three innings, USM had left five runners on base.
Troy added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk by Tripp Calhoun, leading to Jake Winston relieving Talley on the mound.
The USM offense finally felt a spark when leadoff hitter Connor Barron crushed the ball over the right field fence for a solo homerun. It was Barron’s second of the season and narrowed the gap to 4-1.
Troy added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, increasing their lead over the Golden Eagles to 6-1.
USM’s Tim Lynch led off the top of the sixth inning with his second home run of the year over the right field fence, but that was the last run the Golden Eagles scored.
Southern Miss was unable to catch up with the Trojans’ lead and lost game one 6-2.
Talley took the loss for the USM pitching staff, giving up nine hits with five strikeouts. Ryan Ellis had three hits for USM as Barron and Lynch had two hits and a home run apiece.
Cody Carroll was granted the start on the mound for USM in game two, which turned out to a pitching duel.
The game remained scoreless throughout the first six innings, with both teams playing hard-nosed defense.
In the top of the seventh inning, Matt Durst singled up the middle and Daniel Keating came in to pinch run. Lynch then crushed a two-run home run over the right center field fence, his third of the year, giving USM a 2-0 lead.
Carroll’s no hitter ended in the bottom of the eighth when Jo-El Bennett reached first on an infield single. The Golden Eagle defense held off any Trojan attempts to score.
In the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Milton was brought in to relieve Carroll off the mound, looking to close the game for USM.
Milton walked the first two batters and Trevin Hall sacrifice bunted to the pitcher, advancing the runners to second and third base.
Cody Livingston replaced Milton on the mound for Southern Miss. David Hall doubled to right field, scoring both runners and tying the game 2-2.
Southern Miss was able to get out of the inning and send the game into extra innings.
Chase Scott led off the top of the tenth inning with a walk for USM. Sterling then sacrifice bunted, advancing Scott to second base.
Scott advanced to third on a Nick Dawson ground out followed by Barron and Breck Kline loading up the bases on a walk and a catcher’s interference call.
Dylan Burdeaux then walked, scoring Scott from third base.
Keating drilled the first pitch he saw to right field, clearing the bases, for a three-run triple, increasing USM’s lead to 6-2.
Nick Johnson swapped with Livingston on the mound, ready to close out the win for USM. Southern Miss retired Troy in the tenth inning, winning the game by a final score of 6-2.
Southern Miss dominated a windy, rainy game three Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead when Sterling singled to center field for an RBI and a run-scoring grounder by Barron gave USM the 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Durst led off for USM with a double to right field. Lynch followed up with a double of his own, scoring Durst from second and increasing the Golden Eagle lead to 3-0.
Barron led off the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run shot to left field on a 1-1 pitch, making the score 4-0 in Southern Miss’ favor.
In the top of the seventh, Burdeaux singled between third base and the shortstop. Durst then grounded out, advancing Burdeaux to second base.
Lynch followed with a single to right field, giving Taylor Braley the opportunity to push another run across home plate. Braley answered with an RBI groundout to first base, increasing USM’s lead to 5-0.
The Golden Eagles shutout Troy in a 5-0 win behind McMahon, who pitched a complete game.
McMahon gave up six hits with eight strikeouts and earned the win.
USM will travel to Mobile, Alabama, Tuesday to face the South Alabama Jaguars at 6:30 p.m.
