April 9, 2008

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - LSU pounded out 15 hits and scored eight runs, including a grand slam on their way to a 8-4 victory over No. 29 Southern Miss in front of 5,658 fans at Pete Taylor Park Wednesday evening.

"This was a big game for us tonight and we did not get the win," head coach Corky Palmer said. "Once we got down six to nothing we were in trouble because we do not have the big offense to come back from that kind of a deficit."

The 5,658 fans at "The Pete" set a new stadium record, breaking the previous record of 5,377 set on April 5, 2005 against Ole Miss.

Josh Billeaud started on the mound for Southern Miss and worked his way out a few jams before allowing the a six-run fourth inning. He threw 3.1 innings allowing six runs, four earned on seven hits.

Bo Davis continued to swing a hot bat for the Golden Eagles and was the only player with multiple hits for Southern Miss, with two singles on the night and a run scored.

Trey Cuevas and Chris Matesich both had home runs in the seventh inning for the Golden Eagles.

LSU used six different pitchers with no one working over three innings, to scatter out the eight Southern Miss hits.

Billeaud worked out of a bases loaded no-out jam in the top of the first inning, striking out the LSU four and five hole hitters and inducing a ground ball to end the Tiger threat. Billeaud was not so lucky in the fourth inning as he loaded the bases again, this time with one out and second baseman Ryan Schimpf made him pay with a grand slam over the left field wall and a 4-0 LSU lead.

The Tigers added two additional unearned runs in the inning on an RBI single by Derek Helenihi.

LSU added another run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Derek Heleniki pushing the LSU advantage to 7-0.

Southern Miss finally cracked the score board in the bottom of the seventh inning as Trey Cuevas blasted his second home run of the season to center field. The ball actually hit off one of the flag poles behind the wall and was originally ruled a triple, then after the umpires talked it over gave Cuevas the home run.

Kyle Maxie walked and Chris Matesich followed with his second home run of the season over the left field wall to cut the LSU lead to 7-3. Bo Davis singled up the middle to keep the two out rally alive, then stole second base. James Ewing doubled down the right field line scoring Davis and cutting the LSU lead to 7-4.

LSU designated hitter Blake Dean grabbed the momentum back for the Tigers in the top of the eighth inning on a solo home run off reliever Collin Cargill, giving LSU a four run advantage at 8-4.

Southern Miss will continue the homestand this weekend as they step out of conference USA play to host Arkansas State for a three game set.

-southernmiss.com-