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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Mississippi right-hander Taylor Braley turned in a quality start to lead the Golden Eagles to a 4-2 win over University of South Alabama baseball Tuesday at Pete Taylor Park.
Braley (3-0) allowed two runs on five hits while striking out seven and issuing just one walk in 6 1/3 innings in the win. Jaguar left-hander Andy Arguelles (2-1) allowed three runs on six hits and struck out a career-high seven batters against three walks in 5 2/3 innings in the loss. Matt Wallner struck out one in one perfect inning of relief to record his third save of the season.
"I thought Andy (Arguelles) did a nice job tonight against a good-hitting club," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "He gave us a chance to win, and we swung the bats well. We left some men on base and had a few too many strikeouts. We had seven hits and hit nine on the screws. We had men on and couldn't get the big hit, and I credit Southern Miss' pitchers; they did a nice job and we didn't do enough offensively tonight. I wasn't displeased with our performance, we just didn't get that timely hit."
Southern Miss (20-5) broke a scoreless tie with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with two outs on consecutive singles from Dylan Burdeaux and Daniel Keating, and a walk by Taylor Braley. Matt Wallner followed with a two-run single to center field for a 2-0 USM lead.Â
The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-out solo home run to left-center field by Cole Donaldson.Â
USA (15-10) answered with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to cut its deficit to one. Wells Davis drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, and advanced to second on a one-out single through the left side of the infield by Hunter Stokes. Pinch-hitter Carter Perkins drew a walk to load the bases for pinch-hitter Paul Russo, who delivered a two-run double to center field to score Davis and Stokes and cut the USM lead to 3-2.Â
The Golden Eagles answered with the game's final run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hunter Slater tripled off the center field wall with one out, and scored one batter later on a wild pitch from Jaguar right-hander Harrison Spruiell.
"We came out and had four hits in the first two innings, and we had hit four on the screws," Calvi said. "The thing is that they (Southern Miss) didn't walk guys. It was a clean ballgame tonight. Our kids competed hard, we just didn't get the big hit when it mattered. I thought we pitched well and played good defense. We had our moments; it's not like the moment didn't present itself and our kids weren't ready. We just needed a break or two here or there tonight, but we didn't get it. It was a good college baseball game. Both teams competed hard, and I was pleased with the way our team played – we just didn't capitalize on some opportunities that we had and against a good team that is the difference."
Russo went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Wallner finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI to lead Southern Miss offensively.
USA will return to action this weekend when it travels to Lafayette, La., for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Dugout Club, the baseball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/dugoutclub.
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