HATTIESBURG, Miss. (4-12-2008) ? Southern Miss second baseman Chris Matesich hit a two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to drive in two runs and give the Golden Eagles an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Arkansas State Saturday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.
The Indians led 7-4 heading into the ninth, but the Golden Eagles took advantage of four walks, a hit batsman, and the single from Matesich to complete the comeback.
Southern Miss improved to 22-11 with the win and took a 2-0 advantage in the non-conference weekend series. Arkansas State dropped to 15-20 with the loss.
The Indians went to work early in the game, scoring four runs in the first inning. Junior center fielder Derrick Coleman sent the game's first pitch into right field for a leadoff single, followed by a single on the first pitch to junior right fielder Jett Jones. Senior shortstop Ryan Hudgins drew a walk to load the bases with no outs, and junior second baseman Brandon Eller came through with a double to the left field corner to send home the game's first three runs. Eller advanced to third on a ground-out from junior third baseman Guy Brown, and scored on a wild pitch for the early 4-0 ASU advantage.
After the Indian defense backed up starting pitcher Jacob Maggard with a double play in each of the first two innings, the Tribe seized another opportunity to score in the third. Hudgins reached and advanced to second on a Golden Eagle error before scoring on a base hit from Eller to bump the ASU lead to 5-0.
Southern Miss got on the board with a pair of runs in the fourth to cut the Indian lead to 5-2. Matesich sent a two-out single into left field to drive in a run, and third baseman Josh Fields followed Matesich's hit with an RBI single to plate the second Eagle run of the inning.
Arkansas State stretched its lead back to four in the fifth when Eller walked, moved to third on two more walks, and scored on a fielder's choice by freshman first baseman Drew Benes for the 6-2 Indian lead.
The Golden Eagles cut the ASU lead to 6-3 in the sixth on a solo home run from Matesich, but the Indians got the run back in the eighth when Benes led off the inning with his team-leading sixth home run of the season.
Southern Miss scored again in the eighth when right fielder Michael Ewing hit a two-out solo home run to cut the ASU lead to 7-4, then completed the comeback with the ninth-inning rally.
Junior closer Nick Lambert (0-2) took the loss on the mound for ASU, giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Lambert walked four and surrendered one hit without a strikeout. Maggard started for ASU and went six full innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Junior Jordan Kimball worked one and two-thirds innings in relief while senior Joel Boeschen worked one-third of an inning.
Collin Cargill (2-0) picked up the win for Southern Miss. Cargill did not give up a run in two innings while striking out three and surrendering one hit.
Eller's two hits and four RBI's led ASU at the plate, with Matesich going 4-for-5 with four RBI's to lead USM.
The teams will wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
