April 26, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - James Ewing ripped a pinch-hit two-out RBI double in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference as the Golden Eagles topped No. 28 Houston for the second game in a row, 4-3 at Pete Taylor Park Saturday afternoon.

Southern Miss (30-13, 8-6 CUSA) picked up win number 30 on the season for the seventh consecutive year and the tenth time in Palmer's 11 seasons at Southern Miss.

"We just found another way to win again today, different guys have been stepping up for us each and every game and today was no exception," head coach Corky Palmer said. "We played tremendous defense today and got very good pitching from our bullpen as well to hold the lead in the late innings."

Southern Miss only collected four hits in the game but made them count as they edged the Cougars with great pitching from the bullpen and solid defense, turning two big double plays and a few highlight reel plays at shortstop by Brian Dozier.

Starting pitcher Todd McInnis pitcher well over his five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and setting down 11 Cougars in a row from the first through the fifth innings.

Reliever Jonathan Johnston(2-0) picked up the win in relief of McInnis throwing 2.2 innings allowing only two hits and striking out two. Wade Weather picked up the final out in the eight inning before turning the ball over to Tyler Conn for the ninth.

Conn picked up his NCAA leading 15th save of the season, allowing only one hit in the ninth inning and striking out two.

Bo Davis hit his third home run is as many games with a three run shot in the second inning. He hit the long ball in yesterday's contest with Houston and in the final game Wednesday with Mississippi State.

James Ewing had what turned out to be the game winning RBI in the sixth inning as he plated twin brother Michael who walked earlier in the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bun by Keith Winstead.

For the second game in a row Houston jumped out to an early lead with a run in the top of the first coming on an RBI single by Bryan Pounds to put the Cougars up 1-0.

Southern Miss took the lead in the bottom of the second as Bo Davis hit his third home run in as many games, a three-run shot to just to the right of the scoreboard in left-center field. Keith Winstead walked and Adam Doleac doubled down the left field line, his first career extra base hit, to reach base before the Davis home run.

Todd McInnis went into cruise control after giving up a single run in the first inning, retiring the next 11 hitters and allowing only one hit until the sixth inning.

Blake Kelso led off the Houston half of the sixth inning with a single and Jake Stewart tied the game at three with a two-run home run to center field.

With the game tied at three in the sixth inning Ewing delivered the double to the wall in right-center field that put the Golden Eagles on top for good.

The two teams will play the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. at "The Pete".

-southernmiss.com-