April 6, 2008

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - - SOUTHERN MISS ATHLETIC MEDAI RELATIONS Sunday, April 6, 2008 BASEBALL VS ECU - SUNDAY GAME

No. 24 East Carolina Defeats No. 20 Southern Miss to take the C-USA Series.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - No. 24 East Carolina took the rubber game and series over No. 20 Southern Miss with an 11-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.

Southern Miss (20-10, 5-4 CUSA) pounded out 12 hits, but could not ever get the key hit to spark a big inning and answer the ECU offense, leaving 11 runners on base.

David Clark (2-4) had another rough outing for Southern Miss, allowing five runs in the top of the first, three before an out was even recorded, and eight total runs, seven of which were earned, on 10 hits in four innings of work.

Jonathan Johnston gave up three runs in relief of Clark, in 1.2 innings of work and Houston Brown finished the game throwing 3.1 innings without allowing a run and only two hits.

Bo Davis had a three-for-four afternoon to lead the offensive attack. James Ewing and Chris Matesich both had two hits and a RBI on the afternoon as well. Seven different players had a hit for Southern Miss this afternoon also.

ECU (21-9, 5-4 CUSA) jumped on the Golden Eagles early batting around and scoring five runs in the top of the first inning off Clark. Kyle Roller and Trent Whitehead both had two- RBI singles in the inning.

Southern Miss scored two runs in the bottom of the second as Chris Matesich had an RBI double and James Ewing followed with an RBI single to put two runs on the board but Southern miss left the bases loaded for the second consecutive inning.

ECU caught a break to add two more runs in the top of the third inning. Kyle Roller singled and with two outs tried to steal second base, Kyle Maxie gunned him down and the ball beat him by plenty to the bag. As Roller slid into second base Brian Dozier glove was on the ground waiting, but somehow Roller was called safe to extend the inning. The very next pitch Trent Whitehead homered over the right field wall for a 7-2 lead.

ECU added a single run in the fifth inning on a RBI single by Corey Kemp and three more runs in the sixth on another RBI single by Kemp, Roller and Eldridge had an RBI singles as well, making the score 11-2.

Brian Dozier added an RBI in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded fielders choice, but that was the only run the Golden Eagles could push across.

Southern Miss will continue the current homestand with a mid week match up Wednesday vs. LSU. First pitch is set for 6:30 at Pete Taylor Park.

-southernmiss.com-