Tanner Hall strutted off the mound and let out some emotion after recording his 15th strikeout in the 12-1 victory against Arkansas State.
Despite the emotion, Hall had no idea that he had a career-high night as Southern Miss extended its win streak to four straight games, which is the longest of the season.
“In those last two strikeouts, I landed two sliders on both of them for strikeouts,” said Hall on the reason for his emotion. “That was a pitch that I didn’t really use this game, and so it was good to bring it out at the end of the game. It felt good to use. It’s good to win on a Friday, especially when the offense is hitting the way it did and putting up runs. That gives me confidence on the mound.
“I didn’t really have an idea, but I knew I had a good bit (of strikeouts) just because of how the game was going and how I weaseled out of some situations with strikeouts. I really didn’t know, but it was exciting when everyone was telling me congratulations.”
In seven complete innings, Hall gave up one run off three hits, walked two batters, struck out 15 and threw 99 pitches. In total, the Golden Eagles struck out 18 Red Wolves, with Luke Trahan completing the final two innings of the game and recording three strikeouts.
For Hall, the junior right-hander struck out the side three times in his seven-inning out, with the only run coming against him occurring in the sixth off a 2-out RBI double.
USM’s bats put up 12 hits, which extends the Golden Eagles’ streak to five straight games with double-digit hits.
“It starts on the mound,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “When you start getting offense like we did there early in the game, it sure makes pitching a lot easier.
“I just say out of their way now and let them get after it. For a long time, we have been missing on opportunities…eight of our 12 runs were with two outs. We were able to do those things that have alluded us in the past that we have missed on and made it harder for ourselves. For us to capitalize on that and take advantage of it to get them in makes the game go much easier.”
The Golden Eagles jumped out early on Arkansas State as they put up five runs in the first inning, highlighted by a 2-run RBI triple by Christopher Sargent.
After Slade Wilks hit an RBI sac fly in the second inning, Southern Miss added four more runs in the third inning to push the Golden Eagles’ lead to 10-0. After Dustin Dickerson hit a 2-out RBI single, Wilks followed with a 3-run homer. Wilks’ 17th home run of the season traveled 404 feet and held an exit velocity of 107 mph.
“We are really swinging it right now, one through nine,” said Wilks, who was 2-for-4 with five RBIs. “We have guys coming off the bench and swinging it. It’s a lot of fun.
“I think a lot of guys are finding their swings right now. I think there are a lot of guys gaining their confidence right now, and you can tell in the box. We just have to keep it going.”
Southern Miss tacked on one more run in the sixth inning with Nick Monistere hitting an RBI single, then in the eighth pinch hitter Bryce Fowler delivered an RBI single to cap off the night.
First pitch for Saturday’s game against Arkansas State is set for 12 p.m.
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