SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Southern Miss scored in each of its first four innings and took advantage of 11 walks to win its Conference USA series opener versus UTSA, 9-1, Thursday night at Roadrunner Field.
The Golden Eagles (15-9 overall, 2-3 C-USA) snapped a two-game losing streak as Gabe Montenegro scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch in the first off of Roadrunner starter Ryan Ward.
Southern Miss added another run in the second on a Will McGillis sacrifice fly, before Charlie Fischer connected on a opposite field home run to left, a two-run shot, for his fourth of the year in the third inning to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage.
Eagles notch another run 💪@wpmcgillis drives in @ewing_reece on a sac fly to left field
USM 2, UTSA 0 | Mid 2#EverythingMatters | #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/wn7crt8tDx
— Southern Miss Baseball (@SouthernMissBSB) April 1, 2021
Ward started off the fourth by walking Danny Lynch which ended his night, after allowing five runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts to suffer the loss and fall to 0-3 on the year for the Roadrunners (11-9, 3-2).
The Golden Eagles worked through three pitchers in that inning as they collected six walks and had a hitter batter to account for four runs in the frame. Reed Trimble knocked the first run in with a bases loaded walk, before Fischer was hit by a pitch to score a run. The final two runs in the frame came home via walks to Christopher Sargent and Reece Ewing.
A triple by Ewing with one out in the sixth, followed by a run-scoring double from Lynch, completed the Golden Eagles’ scoring. Lynch led the six-hit Golden Eagle attack with two hits.
.@DJ_Lynch26 drives in the 9⃣th Golden Eagle run of the night
USM 9, UTSA 0 | Top 6#EverythingMatters | #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/DkMejNyJZR
— Southern Miss Baseball (@SouthernMissBSB) April 2, 2021
Golden Eagle starter Hunter Stanley gave up a run on three hits with two walks and one strikeout to earn the victory and improve to 4-1. The only blemish was a Dylan Rock sacrifice fly in the sixth, who plated Griffin Paxton who tripled with one out.
Both Hurston Waldrep and Blake Wehunt threw scoreless innings to finish the game for Southern Miss.
The two teams continue the series with a 2 p.m., doubleheader Friday.
– Southern Miss Sports Information
Photo Courtesy of Southern Miss Athletics
