HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Third baseman Danny Lynch’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning Monday scored the go-ahead run for Southern Miss, and the Eagles held on to post an 8-7 win over LSU in the championship game of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional at Pete Taylor Park.
Southern Miss (47-17) advances to meet Ole Miss in an NCAA Super Regional series this weekend. LSU completed its season with a 40-22 mark under first-year head coach Jay Johnson.
Southern Miss reliever Tyler Stuart (4-0) was credited with the win as he worked the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and no hits with one strikeout.
LSU reliever Eric Reyzelman (1-2) was charged with the loss as he gave up one run on three hits in two innings with no walk and one strikeout.
With the game tied 7-7 entering the ninth inning, USM first baseman Christopher Sargent and designated hitter Slade Wilks provided back-to-back singles before Lynch from Sargent home from third on a sacrifice fly.
Stuart retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
Southern Miss rightfielder Carson Paetow led off the game with a home run, his 16th of the year.
The Tigers responded with three runs in the bottom of the first inning as first baseman Tre’ Morgan delivered a two-run single and shortstop Jordan Thompson reached base safely on a bunt, scoring second baseman Cade Doughty from third base.
USM reduced the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth as the Eagles scored on a passed ball and on an RBI groundout by centerfielder Gabe Montenegro.
The Eagles erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh, benefitting from two walks, a hit batter and an error. The inning was highlighted by Montenegro’s two-run single, an RBI single by Wilks and a sacrifice fly by Sargent.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh when Morgan and Thompson delivered back-to-back RBI singles.
LSU tied the game in the eighth on a solo homer by designated hitter Gavin Dugas, his fifth dinger of the year.
{Courtesy: LSU Athletics}
Hattiesburg Regional All-Tournament Team:
Tanner Hall, Southern Miss, RHP
Hurston Waldrep, Southern Miss, RHP
Tyler McManus, LSU, Catcher
Christopher Sargent, Southern Miss, 1B
Will McGillis, Southern Miss, 2B
Sam Ruta, Army, 3B
Tyler Simon, Kennesaw State, SS
Dylan Crews, LSU, OF
Josh Hatcher, Kennesaw State, OF
Josh Pearson, LSU, OF
Cade Doughty, LSU, DH
Most Outstanding Player:
Christopher Sargent, Southern Miss