It was only fitting that Southern Miss’ 14-13 walk-off win in the 11th inning was chaotic of an ending as it was a game.
Moments after Carson Paetow seemed to have hit a game-winning RBI single with bases loaded, Illinois coaches argued that the Golden Eagles baserunners did not touch their respective bases, despite Creek Robertson scoring and reaching home plate.
A celebration by Southern Miss players understandably ensued after winning the dramatic game, but because it was a force out at each base, Illinois’ argument warranted a replay review after the final play. It created a hectic as well as confusing scene as Illinois argued that each player needs to touch base before the game’s end. And in fact, Illinois managed to get a runner out at second base from the late replay. Since Illinois threw the ball to second base before throwing it to third it eliminated the force and in the end, Southern Miss scored the run to put the game away.
“The lesson to be learned and reviewed when that happens is to go to the next base,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “Quit worrying about the celebration and go to the next base. That takes away all that happens there at the end.
“It was a gutsy performance by our team to take the emotions and move it from one inning to the next. Hats off to Illinois to what they were able to do and answer us.”
PAETOW’S HEROICS
Paetow’s walk-off nearly didn’t happen. In the first inning, the right fielder made a hard collision with the wall chasing down the ball. Paetow failed to come up with the ball, and as a result, Illinois took the lead with an inside-the-park home run.
“When I hit the wall, it kind of turned me around, and I hit the back of my head on the turf,” Paetow said. “I’ve never had anything happen like that, so it kind of freaked me out whenever I was on the ground and didn’t know where I was for a few seconds. Once I got back into the dugout and I got up to the plate, it kind of went away. I just focused on the next AB, and it all worked out.”
In the top of the 11th inning, Paetow, who was 2-for-8, made a diving catch to save a base hit before delivering his game-winning hit.
“Any chance you get to walk off at the Pete is fun,” Paetow said. “It was crazy and sometimes stressful, but Coach Berry preaches to play even keel and don’t let the emotions get too high or too low. I think we’ve done well with that. Through the highs and lows of the game, we just stayed calm, and it worked out in our favor.”
MONISTERE'S SHUTDOWN INNING
Setting up the walk-off was a needed shutdown inning from freshman relief pitcher Nick Monistere, who earned the win. In total, Southern Miss gave up 13 walks and hit five batters along with 15 hits.
The last time Southern Miss allowed at least 11 walks in a game was back in the shortened 2020 season against Arkansas Little Rock. Illinois’ staff was not much better as the Fighting Illini walked 11 and hit two batters.
“It was ugly and both sides,” Berry said. “Their side, I’m sure, will tell you too that it was an ugly game on the mound for both teams. If both of our programs want to play at the end, then certainly, we are going to have to clean that up. We walked way too many people and gave up too many runs. A lot of those runs were on the heels of those walks and hit batters.”
Monistere’s only blemish was a two-out single, which responded with a strikeout.
“It was the craziest game that I have ever been a part of in my life,” Monistere said. “Our pitching didn’t get the job done. Our hitters stepped up, and I was proud of them. I was happy for them. It was a bunch of excitement the whole game.
“It was amazing. I’ve been ready for it. Coach (Ostrander) told us every single day to stay ready. Whenever your number is called, you have to be ready to get your outs.”
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED
After inside the park home run, the Golden Eagles got the runs back with a pair of RBI sac flies from Christopher Sargent and Reece Ewing to take the lead at 2-1.
In the third inning, the Fighting Illini got back on top with a 2-run double, but in the bottom of the frame, USM responded with five runs. Lynch hit an RBI double, while Dustin Dickerson and Robertson, who made the first start of his career, drove in runs with RBI singles and built a 7-3 lead.
Yet Illinois chipped away with two 3-run innings in the sixth and seventh, which included a 3-run home run in the seventh inning. USM scored one run in each inning, with Danny Lynch drawing a walk in the bottom of the seventh to take a 10-9 lead.
However, the pitching woes continued heading into the ninth inning as Justin Storm walked two batters before Dickerson, who came in relief, gave up a 3-run home run to give Illinois a 12-9 lead.
The Golden Eagles answered and tied in the game in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single by Danny Lynch and a 2-run RBI single from Robertson.
“Six of those eight innings we scored was after they scored,” Berry said. “That’s pretty remarkable. We left 21 men on base. I’ll take an ugly win over a pretty loss any day. Credit for our guys staying the course. There were a lot of emotions.
“Our team was determined to keep the momentum on our side.”
Sunday’s rubber match is set for 12 p.m.
Follow @AndrewAbadie on Twitter for Southern Miss coverage.
