Southern Miss rallies late to sting Privateers

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The New Orleans Privateers led throughout most of the night but Southern Miss scored four runs between the seventh and eighth inning to snag a 5-4 decision on Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park.

The Golden Eagles cooked up a two-out threat when they got back-to-back singles from Dalton McIntyre and Ozzie Pratt. A Slade Wilks single cut the Privateer lead to 4-2. Then Davis Gillespie came up and hit a two-run double that tied the score. Southern Miss got more than half (four of seven) of their hits in that inning.

In the eighth, Southern Miss set the stage with a hit-by-pitch and a sac bunt. With a runner in scoring position, Gabe Broadus delivered on a line drive RBI single that scored pinch runner, Brady Faust.

From there, Colby Allen came back out to shut the door. After he struck out the side in order in the top of the eighth, Allen retired all three batters faced and added two more strikeouts to his line while he picked up his sixth win of the season.

New Orleans had the momentum on their side early as they scored in every odd numbered inning. Miguel Useche got things started with an RBI double to left off Southern Miss starter, Drew Druckenmiller.

Meanwhile, the duo of Ryan Delorbe and Caleb Seroski held the Golden Eagles hitless through four innings. The only run for Southern Miss in that span scored when McIntyre reached on a fielding error and later scored on an RBI ground out.

Alexander Saunier delivered a pair of RBI singles in the fifth and seventh. In the fifth, he legged out an infield hit while scoring Mitchell Sanford. In the seventh with two outs and two strikes, Saunier snuck one through the middle of the infield that brought the Privateer advantage to 4-1 before Southern Miss commenced their rally.

INSIDE THE BOX
Saunier had two hits and two walks on the night. Sanford and Diego Villescas each had a hit and a run scored. Victor Castillo went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs. Useche’s double was his 47th, tying him for seventh on the career doubles list with Stuart Weidie. Delorbe, Seroski and Jack Williams combined for five strikeouts over five innings.

McIntyre went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Gillespie went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Golden Eagle pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts on the night.

NEXT UP
The Privateers travel to Hammond to face Southeastern. First pitch for the series opener is at 6 p.m. on Friday.

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