May 5, 2007

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss pounded out a season-high 18 runs on 18 hits to defeat Marshall, 18-3, in seven innings, today, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field in front of 3,113 in attendance.

With the win, the Golden Eagles (29-19, 10-10 C-USA) move their conference record to 10-10 and win their third conference series in a row.

Southern Miss produced or tied seven team season-high marks and one individual season high in today's game. The runs (18), hits (18), RBIs (16), doubles (7), home runs (3), total bases (34) and walks (11) set or tied season highs. Jody Blount's four runs tied an individual season high for runs scored in a game this year.

Southern Miss scored 18 runs on 18 hits and committed two errors, while Marshall (19-25, 4-12 C-USA) scored three runs on nine hits.

Barry Bowden (6-3) won his sixth game of the season, including five-straight in conference play. He pitched six innings, gave up three runs, two earned, on eight hits, walked two and struck out six batters. Jonathan Johnston pitched the seventh inning and gave up a hit and struck out a batter. Herd starter Andrew Blain (4-2) dropped his second decision of the season, giving up eight runs on nine hits, walking seven and striking out one batter.

Southern Miss' Brian Dozier, Jody Blount, James Ewing and Drew Carson each finished with three hits. Trey Cuevas collected a game-high four RBIs, Dozier had three RBIs and James Ewing finished with two RBIs.

Michael Ewing finished with two doubles, and Dozier, Blount, James Ewing, Winstead and Carson each had one as well. Cuevas, Sutton and Dozier all homered for the Golden Eagles.

Brit Vincent led Marshall with three hits, and Jeff Rowley and Brandon Casamassima each had two hits.

The Herd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nate Lape led off with a double to left field and scored on Casamassima's single to center field.

The Golden Eagles came back with two runs in the first inning to take the one-run lead. Sutton walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Cuevas' sacrifice fly to center. Blount walked, stole second and scored on Jordan King's bases-loaded walk.

Marshall scored two runs in the third inning to regain the lead once again, 3-2. Jeff Rowley hit a one-out single to left center, moved to third on Casamassima's double down the left field line. Brendan Murphy hit a fielder's choice grounder to third base where King tried to retire Rowley at the plate and made an errant throw, allowing him to score. Vincent reached on a bunt single down the first base line, allowing Casamassima to score from third.

Southern Miss struck for six runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth inning to take a commanding 14-3 lead. In the fourth inning, Carson scored on a wild pitch, Cuevas hit a three-run homer to left center field, his ninth of the season and Keith Winstead hit a two-run double to center field.

In the fifth inning, Sutton hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. Dozier doubled down the left field line and scored when Blount hit a double down the left field line. Cuevas walked and then a double to left center by Michael Ewing drove in Blount for the second run of the inning. James Ewing hit a double to left field to drive in Cuevas and Michael Ewing. Carson singled to left field to drive in James Ewing for the sixth run of the inning.

The Golden Eagles added a run in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 15-3. Jody Blount reached on a hard-hit single past third base, moved to second and third on wild pitches and scored on Bailey Hartel's ground out to second base.

Southern Miss ended the game in the seventh inning when Dozier hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot off the scoreboard in left center field.

Southern Miss and Marshall play the final game of the three-game Conference USA series on Sunday at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field at 1 p.m.