Did baseball win? [Archive] - My Hattiesburg Community

reality

04-17-2005, 02:01 AM

Southern Miss falls to Saint Louis, 5-1, In Second Game Of Conference USA Weekend Series...

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Saint Louis’ Ryan Bird gave up one run on four hits over 6.2 innings and struck out seven to lead the Billikens to a 5-1 victory over Southern Miss, today, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field in front of 3,392.

Saint Louis (7-25, 3-11 Conference USA) finished with five runs on eight hits, and Southern Miss (26-8, 9-5 C-USA) scored one run on four hits and committed two errors.

The Golden Eagles stranded 10 base runners, while Saint Louis left on two.

The Billikens were led by Johnny Sweeney, who finished with two hits and the only player to have more than one hit in the game. Five different players finished with one hit for Southern Miss.

Barry Bowden (2-3) dropped his third decision of the season, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up four runs on five hits. Brad Owen came on in relief in the second inning, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits and struck out two. Daniel Best pitched the ninth inning, giving up one hit and striking out two. Billiken relief pitcher B.J. Rodrigue pitched 2.1 innings, giving up two walks and striking out one to earn his third save of the season.

Saint Louis took an early 4-0 lead in the second inning. Scott Peden doubled down the left field line and then scored on Sweeney’s single through the right side. Patrick Valdez was hit by a pitch and Bill Musselman reached on an infield single to short to load the bases. Tim Landy doubled to left field to drive in Sweeney and Valdez, before Jon Guyre doubled to right field to drive in Musselman for the fourth run of the inning.

Southern Miss scored its only run in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 4-1, the final outcome. Brad Willcutt led off with a double to right center, before Jason Lowery doubled to right center to drive in Willcutt.

The Golden Eagles left two runners on in the fourth and fifth innings and left the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

The two teams will place the final game of the three-game Conference USA series on Sunday at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field at 1 p.m.