To simply say it, Southern Miss was beat in all phases in the Golden Eagles’ 10-1 loss to Louisiana.
The loss not only snapped USM’s 14-game win streak but dropped the Golden Eagles to second place in the Sun Belt standings and potentially knocks them out of securing a share of the conference regular season title with one game left in the regular season.
“In the 14 games prior to this one, we played well, deserved to win and did a lot of things well to win, but tonight we just didn’t do a whole lot, Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “I really think Lafayette came out and punched us in the face, and we didn’t punch back.”
The only way Southern Miss (36-16, 21-8 Sun Belt) can resecure a share is if the Golden Eagles win on Saturday and Coastal Carolina loses to last-place Marshall.
The Ragin Cajuns seized momentum in the first inning after opening the game with a triple and then an RBI single and later delivering a home run to go up 2-0. The Golden Eagles followed that by standing four of their six runners on base in the bottom of the first and second innings.
“Lafayette got two tonight in the top of the first, and we needed that run just to punch back, but we didn’t do it,” Berry said. “(I was) really disappointed in the bottom of the first to get a leadoff double, just like last night, and not get him in.”
As USM’s offense struggled, the defensive issues began in the fifth inning after second baseman Nick Monistere failed to come up with a routine ground ball that allowed a run to score with two outs.
In the sixth inning, relief pitcher Kros Sivley struggled to field a pair of bunts which allowed the leadoff runner to reach base. Blake Johnson then made a throwing error to first on a failed pickoff which then set up a 2-run double to push the lead to 6-0.
“We just didn’t do enough,” Berry said. “We didn’t handle the pressure that they applied on us in the inning where they utilized the bunt.”
From there, UL (36-19, 17-12) tacked four more runs in the seventh inning. The only life Southern Miss showed was a solo home run by Matthew Etzel to break up the shutout.
The Golden Eagle offense only put up five hits as Louisiana’s starting pitcher Carson Fluno lasted eight innings and accounted for 11 of USM’s 12 strikeouts while surrendering just four hits and a run.
“Certainly, the 12 strikeouts were self-inflicted on our own part, but sometimes you have to say he is throwing something that is hard to pick up,” Berry said. “I credit him and don’t want to take anything away from his outing because he did exactly what his team needed him to do.
“He was throwing something that was a swing-and-miss pitch.”
For the Golden Eagles’ pitching staff, the 15 hits allowed was the second most amount allowed since the first game of the series against Coastal Carolina back on April 21.
“I look at it like the Sunday (win) at Coastal Carolina,” said Berry on how to approach the final game of the series against UL. “They kicked us in the mouth, and you are either going to lay there and let them keep kicking you, or you are going to get up and do something about it. It’s about attitude, and it’s about approach. It’s about how you come out and here and compete. That’s what we have to do. We are a good club, and I don’t think tonight went about the way a good club has to against another quality program.”
First pitch for Saturday’s game against Louisiana is set for 1 p.m.
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