BIRMINGHAM -- No. 13 Southern Miss finished off its third consecutive sweep of a three-game Conference USA baseball series with a 9-4 win over UAB Sunday at Young Memorial Field.
Southern Miss (35-12, 19-4 C-USA), which won for the 12th time in its last 13 games, opened up a 3 ½-game lead atop the conference standings with its first sweep in Birmingham since 2006. The Golden Eagles have won 12 consecutive conference series.
Erick Hoard sparked a six-run second inning with a two-run home run in just his third start of the season, and for a second straight day, the Golden Eagles’ bullpen turned in a solid effort.
With one out in the second inning, Hunter Slater walked and Hoard followed with his second home of the season over the wall in left-center for 2-0 lead.
Cole Donaldson, who finished with three hits, singled and went to third on Mason Irby’s single. Donaldson scored on a fielder’s choice ground ball.
After Gabe Montenegro walked, Matthew Guidry doubled down the right-field line to score both Boyd and Montenegro to give USM a 5-0 lead.
Guidry moved to third on a wild pitch during a Reynolds’ walk, and the Golden Eagles pulled off a double steal, with Guidry scoring on the back end for a 6-0 lead.
UAB (19-26, 11-13), which had been outscored 12-1 in the first two games, chipped away at the lead, scoring single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings.
But Southern Miss slammed the door with three, ninth-inning runs, including Donaldson’s two-run single.
Southern Miss starter Walker Powell (6-2) picked up the win, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Keller Bradford, Adam Jackson, J.C. Keys and Matt Wallner combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking none and striking out three.
UAB starter Tyler Gates (4-2) took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two.
The Golden Eagles will host second-place Louisiana Tech next weekend at Pete Taylor Park in the final home series of the regular season.
