March 16, 2007

Final Stats

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Ryan Belanger (4-1) pitched eight strong innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits, walking two and striking out a season-high eight batters to lead the Golden Eagles to a 5-2 win over Kent State, tonight, in the first game of the three-game weekend series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field in front of 2,914 in attendance.

Patrick Ezell (6) earned his sixth save of the season, pitching the final inning and striking out two. Kent State starter John Pacella (1-3) dropped his third decision of the season, pitching two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on one hit and walking three batters.

Golden Eagle second baseman Trey Sutton led all hitters with three hits, and James Ewing and Eddie Burger each finished with two hits. Will Vazquez led Kent State with two hits, and Greg Rohan and Chris Tremblay each finished with an RBI.

Southern Miss (13-6) finished with five runs on 10 hits and committed one error, while Kent State (5-9) scored two runs on eight hits and committed an error.

The Golden Eagles scored two runs on the first inning to take the early lead. Sutton led off the game with a double down the right field line, Brian Dozier walked and Luke Adkins walked to load the bases. A balk by Kent State starter John Pacella plated Sutton and Trey Cuevas grounded out to short to score Dozier.

Kent State scored a run in the second to cut the Golden Eagle lead in half. Vazquez hit a one-out double down the left field line and scored on Rohan's single to center.

The Golden Eagles answered with one in the bottom of the second inning to extend their lead to 3-1. Burger singled up the middle, moved to second when Sutton singled through the right side and scored on James Ewing's single to right center.

Kent State cut Southern Miss' lead to one in the fifth inning, 3-2. Jason Patton reached on a one-out fielding error by Golden Eagle second baseman Bailey Hartel. Brad Winter singled to center to advance Patton to third base, before Tremblay singled to left to plate him.

The Golden Eagles scored single runs in the sixth and seventh inning to provide the final outcome, 5-2.

Bo Davis led off the sixth inning with an infield single to third base and reached second when third baseman Andrew Davis overthrew first baseman Winter, trying to retire Davis. Burger reached on a bunt single down the first base line to advance Davis to third and then Davis scored when Sutton hit into a double play.

James Ewing led off the seventh inning with a single to right center, Adkins singled up the middle and Cuevas walked to load the bases before Michael Ewing flew out to center to drive in James Ewing.

Southern Miss and Kent State play the second of the three-game weekend series on Saturday at 1 p.m., at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.