Southern Miss was seemingly running empty on the mound, when head coach Christian Ostrander and company turned to freshman Grayden Harris. The lefty went on to have his best performance of the season, earning the Golden Eagles a spot in the championship round of their own regional.
In an 8-1 win over Columbia, Harris allowed the one run across 6.1 innings pitched. He struck out two and allowed just four hits. Southern Miss will now face Miami on Sunday night and needs a win to stay alive for another day.
Scoring summary
Since Southern Miss lost the opening game Friday night, against Columbia 11-4, they had to play as the visitors in their own ballpark. Sun Belt Player of the Year Nick Monistere put the Golden Eagles on the board first with a single that knocked in Jake Cook in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the second, Columbia tied the game when outfielder Sky Selinsky singled in Cole Fellows. Fortunately for the Golden Eagles, this would be the only time the Lions crossed the plate.
In the top of the sixth inning, Cook broke open the scoreboard on a fielder’s choice, bringing Drey Barrett home. The Golden Eagles then scored six runs across the final innings of play, including a three-run long ball off the bat of Ben Higdon.
Numbers never lie
Along with Harris’ 6.1 innings of work, Mississippi Gulf Coast native Landen Payne came in to close out the final two innings for the save, allowing one hit and zero runs.
Cook reached base three times for Southern Miss, and Higdon had three RBI and scored two runs. Four Golden Eagles – Cook, Monistere, Barrett, and Tucker Stockman – had multi-hit days as the team totaled 12.
Next up
Southern Miss will play Miami on Sunday at 6:35 p.m. The Golden Eagles need a win to force a winner-takes-all game on Monday.
