Seth Smith was filled with nerves as he stepped into the batter’s box with the game tied in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The true freshman kept his composure as he drove the ball to the opposite side of the field to deliver an RBI double that was the go-ahead run and the first hit of his career to give Southern Miss a 4-3 series-opening win over Missouri State.
“To be honest, I was real nervous,” Smith said. “I was looking for my fastball, and I got my fastball. I’ve wanted to help out, and that was my way of helping out. It feels really good.
“I feel like I’ve been getting my hits off really the last couple of days. They just haven’t fallen, but that one did.”
The second baseman has been in and out of the lineup for the Golden Eagles early on. During Friday’s game, he entered the lineup late after starter Nolan Tucker, who Smith has rotated with, was taken out for a pinch hitter.
“I’m playing my role,” Smith said. I didn’t get to start today. I’m trying to cheer on my teammates. I’m looking for any chance I can to help out.
“I put all my trust in Coach (Ostrander). He wants what is best for us and wants to win. I want to win, too.”
MAZZA DEALS AGAIN
Southern Miss’ starting pitcher Niko Mazza has yet to allow a walk through his first two starts. He struck out seven batters in six innings of work and allowed three runs off seven hits.
“Niko was good again. He had no walks through six innings and made them get hits to move the ball around,” Southern Miss coach Christian Ostrander said. “That was a dog fight and not a whole lot of offense. It was kind of sporadic for both teams. I was pleased with our pitching staff tonight for keeping us in the middle of the ring and giving us a chance to win.”
Missouri State got on the board first in the third inning after the Bears came up with back-to-back two-out RBI doubles.
However, Southern Miss quickly answered in the bottom of the frame after Missouri State walked the bases loaded. Ozzie Pratt and Slade Wilks came up with two straight RBI sac flies to even the score. Carson Paetow then followed by hitting a high fly ball into no man’s land that resulted in an RBI double to give the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Yet the lead was short-lived, with Missouri State hitting a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning.
SIVLEY BOUNCES BACK
With the game tied, Southern Miss went to left-hander Kros Sivley, who was told he would be taken out of the starting rotation earlier in the week after struggling on opening weekend.
“I’d rather start, but anybody would rather start,” Sivley said. “I want to do whatever helps the team win.
“Coach Oz is always preaching to get back on the horse and whenever the next outing comes, to take advantage of it and do your thing.”
Sivley answered by retiring six of the seven hitters he faced. The Sumrall alum gave up a one-out walk in the eighth inning but responded with two quick outs to set up Smith’s critical at-bat.
“He came out of the pen last year and was lights out for us,” Ostrander said. “He was disappointed when I told him that he wasn’t starting this weekend, but I challenged him. I told him that he’ll get his opportunity on Friday night and to be ready. There are going to be a lot of lefties in the lineup, and I think you can neutralize them. It’s easier said than done, but he kept his poise. I said in front of the whole team that it was a great bounce and staying mature and not getting down.”
Sivley, who earned the victory, retired the first two batters in the ninth before Ostrander went to freshman McCarty English to close the game.
“I knew I did my job,” Sivley said. “I’m never really going to argue. I did what I could do. (Ostrander) is going to put somebody out there that is just as good as me.”
First pitch on Saturday between Southern Miss and Missouri State is set for 1 p.m.
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