HAMMOND, La. – Matt Wallner had three of Southern Miss’ season-high 20 hits and drove in four runs as the No. 13 Golden Eagles defeated Southeastern Louisiana 12-4 Tuesday night at Pat Kenelly Diamond.
The Golden Eagles (25-11) got three hits each from Wallner, Gabe Montenegro, Luke Reynolds, Mason Irby and LeeMarcus Boyd.
The visitors put the game away early with six runs in the third inning, chasing SLU starter Mason Knopp (3-2). Knopp lasted two-plus innings and gave up six runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts to suffer the loss.
Southern Miss had the first six batters reach base as Irby singled and Boyd doubled to start the frame.
After an infield single by Montenegro to load the bases, Reynolds doubled in two with a shot to the right-centerfield gap. Wallner then followed with a mammoth three-run blast to center for his 10th homer of the campaign.
Wallner doubled in the seventh run one inning later and Hunter Slater then added a run-scoring single to make the score 8-1.
Southern Miss added a solo run in the seventh on a Boyd run-scoring single, before finishing its scoring with three more tallies in the eighth. Bryant Bowen knocked in the first run on his first career triple, and then scored on an RBI single from Irby. Boyd then added another single to plate the Golden Eagles’ final run.
SLU scored solo runs in four different frames as Nathan Pilutti tallied two hits and drove in three runs to lead the Lions.
Jarod Wright went a career-high five innings, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts to earn the victory and improve to 3-1. Adam Jackson then threw two innings, giving up a run, before Cody Carroll and Keller Bradford added scoreless frames down the stretch.
The Golden Eagles return home when they entertain Middle Tennessee in a three-game Conference USA series this weekend as part of Eagle Fest weekend. The series opener is Friday at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field with a 6 p.m. start time.
