May 4, 2008

Box Score

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Three Southern Miss pitchers combined to shutout Marshall for the first time this season in a 5-0 win to take the weekend series at Marshall.

After the two teams combined for 46 runs and 58 hits in the first two games of the series, Sunday's game featured only 14 hits and five runs, eight of the hits and all five runs belonged to Southern Miss.

" I was real proud of this team to come back and take this series after losing Friday night," head Coach Corky Palmer said. " It was tremendous to see Barry (Bowden) get back on the mound today, we will see how he feels the next couple of days."

The best news of the day was the return of staff ace Barry Bowden who looked terrific in his first outing since April 5th. He was limited to a pitch count of 60 pitches and worked four complete innings throwing 61 pitches, 42 for strikes. He allowed only two hits without allowing a run and striking out seven, including six of the first nine hitters he faced.

Jonathan Johnston was outstanding in relief of Bowden working 3.2 innings, tying longest outing of his career allowing only three hits without giving up a run. Wade Weathers finished the game.

"Johnston has been outstanding over the past couple of weeks for us, I am not sure we could have made it without him," Palmer said.

James Ewing led the charge offensively again for Southern Miss with two hits, two runs and two RBI. His two hits were a triple and a double on the afternoon. Over the three game series at Marshall Ewing hit an even .500 (7/14) with five extra base hits, six runs scored and eight RBI.

Southern Miss scored the games first run in the top of the third as James Ewing continued his hot hitting with a double to right-center field scoring Brain Dozier from first for an early 1-0 lead. Corey Stevens delivered with a two-out single up the middle to score Ewing from third base.

The Golden Eagles added their third run of the inning with a little help from Marshall pitcher Dan Straily, who over threw a pick off attempt to first base to advance Stevens and Kyle Maxie who drew a walk earlier in the inning. The next pitch Straily uncorked a ball to the back stop to allow Maxie to score the third run of the inning.

Southern Miss added to their lead in the top of the seventh inning with two outs as James Ewing hit his second triple of the weekend scoring his brother Michael Ewing who walked earlier in the inning. Kyle Maxie added a two-out RBI single to score James Ewing from third base for a 5-0 lead,

Southern Miss will not play a mid week game for the first time this season in the upcoming week due to finals scheduled on campus. The Golden Eagles will return to action next weekend for the final regular season games at Pete Taylor Park as they host Memphis for the C-USA weekend series.

-southernmiss.com-