Golden Eagles blast Jaguars

By By Jared Florreich/staff writer
June 1, 2003
HATTIESBURG The bats were knocking and Pete Taylor Park was rocking Saturday night as a record crowd of 4,553 watched Southern Mississippi gain a measure of revenge with an 18-1 win over Southern University.
The Eagles (47-15) will face Baylor for the NCAA Regional at Hattiesburg championship today at 1 p.m., as USM matched their offensive output a Saturday afternoon thumping of Murray State by scoring 18 runs and banging out 18 hits to eliminate Southern University from the double-elimination event.
The USM pitching staff allowed just one run, 12 hits, and struck out 14 for the day on Saturday.
Just like the morning contest, the Eagles jumped on Southern University early.
USM Shortstop Matt Shepard drew a four-pitch walk in the top of the first, and following a strikeout by first baseman Marc Maddox, Jeff Cook deposited his 23rd homer of the season over the left center field wall.
Southern University (47-7), playing barely an hour after losing 10-3 to Baylor, never recovered. Jaguar starter Vince Davis took the loss, pitching one inning, allowing three hits and four runs.
Roger Cador. "We just didn't swing the bats well today."
After catcher Brad Willcutt struck out, rightfielder Clint King and second
baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir rocked back-to-back homeruns, making the score
4-0, and giving USM starter Stephen Castleman all the run support he would
need.
to go as long as I could, I wanted to go nine but seven is fine."
Castleman pitched seven innings, holding the Jaguars scoreless until the
seventh. Jaguar Kevin Vital led off the inning with a solo homer to
center. The Jaguars loaded the bases, but Castleman
escaped further damage. John Nicholas pitched the final two innings.
Southern Miss scored five more runs in the second inning. A RBI single by
Shepard and grand slam homer by Willcutt made the score 9-0. In the
second, the Eagles batted through their lineup for the second straight game.
The Eagles sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning against Murray
State, an 18-0 victory.
USM designated hitter Ryan Frith hit his first homer as an Eagle in the
fourth, a solo shot to center. The Eagles added two more runs in the
fifth on an RBI triple by King and RBI single by Hoffpauir. Jason Lowery had
an RBI double in the ninth and Beau Griffin had an RBI single to make the
final score 18-1.
Southern Miss tied a season high with five homers in the game.
Willcutt finished the game with five RBIs, King finished with four RBIs,
and Cook and Hoffpauir had two RBIs each. Every USM starter got at least
one hit.By Jared Florreich
staff writer
HATTIESBURG The bats were knocking and Pete Taylor Park was rocking Saturday night as a record crowd of 4,553 watched Southern Mississippi gain a measure of revenge with an 18-1 win over Southern University.
The Eagles (47-15) will face Baylor for the NCAA Regional at Hattiesburg championship today at 1 p.m., as USM matched their offensive output a Saturday afternoon thumping of Murray State by scoring 18 runs and banging out 18 hits to eliminate Southern University from the double-elimination event.
The USM pitching staff allowed just one run, 12 hits, and struck out 14 for the day on Saturday.
Just like the morning contest, the Eagles jumped on Southern University early.
USM Shortstop Matt Shepard drew a four-pitch walk in the top of the first, and following a strikeout by first baseman Marc Maddox, Jeff Cook deposited his 23rd homer of the season over the left center field wall.
Southern University (47-7), playing barely an hour after losing 10-3 to Baylor, never recovered. Jaguar starter Vince Davis took the loss, pitching one inning, allowing three hits and four runs.
Roger Cador. "We just didn't swing the bats well today."
After catcher Brad Willcutt struck out, rightfielder Clint King and second
baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir rocked back-to-back homeruns, making the score
4-0, and giving USM starter Stephen Castleman all the run support he would
need.
to go as long as I could, I wanted to go nine but seven is fine."
Castleman pitched seven innings, holding the Jaguars scoreless until the
seventh. Jaguar Kevin Vital led off the inning with a solo homer to
center. The Jaguars loaded the bases, but Castleman
escaped further damage. John Nicholas pitched the final two innings.
Southern Miss scored five more runs in the second inning. A RBI single by
Shepard and grand slam homer by Willcutt made the score 9-0. In the
second, the Eagles batted through their lineup for the second straight game.
The Eagles sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning against Murray
State, an 18-0 victory.
USM designated hitter Ryan Frith hit his first homer as an Eagle in the
fourth, a solo shot to center. The Eagles added two more runs in the
fifth on an RBI triple by King and RBI single by Hoffpauir. Jason Lowery had
an RBI double in the ninth and Beau Griffin had an RBI single to make the
final score 18-1.
Southern Miss tied a season high with five homers in the game.
Willcutt finished the game with five RBIs, King finished with four RBIs,
and Cook and Hoffpauir had two RBIs each. Every USM starter got at least
one hit.