Southern Miss' bats continue to look productive through the fall.
This past Sunday's fall scrimmage was highlighted by a walk-off 3-run homer by Nick Monistere and a two-out grand slam from Davis Gillespie.
In total, the Golden Eagles' bats put up 21 hits and 17 runs on the day. Despite the offensive production, there were still several notable pitching performances from what will likely be future bullpen pieces for the upcoming season.
Notably, five Golden Eagles collected two or more hits, with Braden Luke going 3-for-4 and driving in a pair of runs.
WHO STARTED WHERE?
The Gold Team featured Matthew Russo at first base, Nolan Tucker at second, Gillespie at third, Seth Smith at shortstop and Lawson Odom at catcher. The outfield included Slade Wilks in left field, Monistere in center and Ty Durham in right.
Starting for the Grey Team was Braden Luke at first, Eli Collins at second, Gabe Broadus at third, Ozzie Pratt at shortstop and Tucker Stockman behind the plate. In the outfield were Billy Bulter in left, Brady Faust in right and Dalton McIntyre in center.
Starting on the mound were Billy Oldham and Cole Boswell.
POSITIVE PITCHING
Oldham pitched only one inning, which saw him retire the lineup in order and finish off by striking out Carson Paetow.
Boswell, who is a 6-foot-3 right-hander from Meridian CC, pitched two clean innings, which included him striking out Russo and Wilks.
However, the most notable pitching performance of the day belonged to sophomore Colby Allen, whose fastball stayed between 90-91 mph. In three innings of work, Allen struck out five batters, allowing three hits and one run. Allen's lone mistake was a one-out RBI double, but he responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
INJURIES
Starting right fielder Carson Paetow did not play in the field and only took at-bats due to a minor lower-body injury.
During the scrimmage, Slade Wilks attempted to run down a ball but made a hard collision with the left field wall that left him shaken up. Wilks finished the inning but came out of the lineup and did not return to left field. However, it seemed to be precautionary as he spent the rest of the day in the dugout.
BROADUS' HIGHLIGHT
Pearl River CC transfer Gabe Broadus flashed leather as he robbed Monistere of a hard-hit ground ball that should have gotten through the infield. Broadus made a diving catch and then a perfect throw to first base to throw Monistere out.
Broadus finished the day going 1-for-2 as he hit the RBI double against Allen and also drew a walk.
MONISTERE AND GILLESPIE'S BIG SWINGS
Davis Gillespie took full advantage of what was a rough outing for reliever Isaiah Rhodes. Rhodes walked the leadoff batter but responded with a pair of strikeouts. However, the sidearmed reliever hit a pair of batters to load the bases. Gillespie went yard with his homerun ball, hitting the top of Southern Miss' scoreboard.
In two innings, Rhodes finished the day hitting three batters, walking one, striking out two and allowing five runs off four hits.
Setting up the scrimmages' dramatic end, Monistere pitched in the top of the seventh as he relieved Jones College transfer Drew Druckenmiller, who had one out with the bases loaded. Monistere surrendered a pair of hits, with the runs charged to Druckenmiller, but the sophomore came up with a strikeout and ground out to get out of the inning.
Monistere's home run ball came in the bottom of the seventh with the Gold Team trailing 8-6. Ian McIntyre, who played in center earlier in the day, looked to close the game as he rang up a pair of strikeouts to open the inning. However, Gray Bane and Nolan Tucker kept the game alive with back-to-back singles to set up Monistere's home run that flew over the left field wall.
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