Although it's still early in the season, the importance of sweeping Indiana State is something that the Southern Miss squad has not taken lightly, as the group knows that the series could be critical in dictating their postseason future.
Southern Miss has yet to earn a weekend sweep this season but the Golden Eagles came one step closer after using an early four-run inning to cruise to a 6-2 victory over Indiana State to clinch the series.
"If we sweep this team, it's going to look really good at the end of the year because the past few years, they have been a deep postseason team," said Carson Paetow, who was 3-for-4 on Saturday. "We have to come in here and keep our eyes on the prize and have that tunnel vision and don't get satisfied. Teams lose on Sunday when they are satisfied. We are going to do our best not to let that happen."
The Golden Eagles took a 4-0 lead over Indiana State, a program that reached a Super Regional last season, in the first inning. A two-run RBI double by Slade Wilks ignited the early rally, followed by Seth Smith driving in a run on a fielder's choice. Paetow then scored from a balk.
"This year, we can't necessarily bang the ball around in terms of homers like we used to in years past," Paetow said. "That doesn't mean we can't hit as good if not better than last year or the year before's offense.
"I think we definitely find more ways of getting on base and kind of manufacturing runs compared to years past. I think we are just now starting to heat up."
Southern Miss' starting pitcher Billy Oldham rolled through Indiana State's lineup in the first three innings as he rang up five of his seven strikeouts.
"Coach (Christian Ostrander) likes for us to get ahead (in the count)," Oldham said. "When I do that, I have a chance to strike guys out. I've been kind of getting away from that in the middle innings. That's why I'm not as going as deep as I can. But when I'm getting ahead early, then I'm going right for the kill."
However, in the fourth inning, the Sycamores found some success. Oldham gave up a leadoff base hit, the first he allowed in the game. The right-hander then threw a wild pitch that catcher Lawson Odom lost to allow the runner to reach third base. That set up a fielder's choice RBI for Indiana State (7-3) that was followed by a two-out RBI single to narrow the score to 4-2.
Oldham bounced back to keep Indiana State scoreless in the fifth as he finished the game, allowing just two runs off three hits in five innings of work. Relievers Colby Allen and JB Middleton combined to allow three hits in the next four innings, with neither giving up a walk.
"It's a great thing when you can win two ball games and only use five arms," Southern Miss coach Christian Ostrander said. "That's something we celebrate. My challenge is keeping the guys ready.
"I knew we had a competitive staff. When you have a staff that is competitive like that, that makes guys elevate a little bit."
Southern Miss (8-3) forced the Sycamores' starting pitcher to exit by the fourth inning to help set up a late run in the seventh and eighth innings. Paetow hit a solo homer in the seventh that recorded an exit velocity of 106 mph that traveled 396 feet over the right-center wall and pushed the score to 5-2.
"I definitely barreled it up, but I thought it was just going to be a pop-up," Paetow said. "It kind of kept going, and it turned out to be a homer.
"We kind of fed off each other. It all started with the first inning."
Nick Monistere capped off the game by tacking on an insurance run with an RBI double in the eighth inning.
"I thought it was a very complete game from the offensive side with scoring four runs early and setting the tone," Ostrander said. "We have put ourselves in a position to (sweep). We have to come out tomorrow, fight and play good baseball.
"I'm ready for our guys to answer the call."
Sunday's first is set for 1 p.m.
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