While Southern Miss baseball didn’t question the intensity of Columbia’s team, it was clear the Golden Eagles were surprised by the output of the Lions, losing in the opening round of the Hattiesburg Regional by a score off 11-4.
Columbia, coming off an Ivy League championship, put up 16 hits and amounted for 19 batters on base. Southern Miss, riding an 18-game win streak until being beat in the Sun Belt championship, lost its second game in a row.
Scoring summary
In front of a packed Pete Taylor Park, host Southern Miss didn’t start off on the right foot. Starting pitcher Matthew Adams gave up four runs before finishing the third inning. The first two were off a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice and the next two were off base hits.
Kros Sivley came in relief and allowed seven runs, including two home runs, across five innings pitched. Sivley was pulled in the ninth as Caden Sumstrom came in to get the last out.
Offensively, Southern Miss was simply outpaced. The Golden Eagles left eight players on base and catcher Tucker Stockman was the only USM player to reach base three times – a double and two walks.
Scoring for the Golden Eagles was unconventional. Jake Cook grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the third. Matthew Russo scored on a wild pitch followed by Ozzie Pratt receiving an RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth. A fielding error made for the only other run of the night for the black and gold.
Leading the way for Columbia was Anton Lazits and Owen Estabrook, who combined for four hits, two long balls, and six RBI.
What the coach said
Even though Southern Miss skipper Christian Ostrander was not happy with the result, he applauded Columbia for winning their 17th of the last 18 games.
“I want to congratulate Columbia and their coaches. They played an outstanding baseball game,” he said. “It was our goal to go out there and win, and it just didn’t go our way. They were better in all areas of the game.”
In further response about tomorrow’s elimination game, Ostrander said, “We still have a chance to continue our season tomorrow if we win and these guys keep playing together.”
Into the losers’ bracket
Southern Miss will now face two-seed Alabama, who lost to three-seed Miami, on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Golden Eagle ace and Ferriss Trophy winner JB Middleton will be on the mound as the team looks to use Friday’s upset as fuel.
