HATTIESBURG – Fresh off a weekend that saw only 15 hits in three games, the Southern Miss bats were cold again Tuesday night against the University of New Orleans.
In the 2-1 loss to the Privateers, the Golden Eagles recorded six hits and left 11 runners on base. Southern Miss is now 4-3 overall this season and welcome Gonzaga for a three-game series starting Friday at 6 p.m.
“We’re not competing like we’ve got to compete at this level to win ballgames,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “We had six hits tonight, left 11 guys on, had multiple opportunities to drive in runs and execute some things, but we didn’t get it done.
“We have to learn in those situations to stand up and get it done. Until we do that, we’re going to struggle offensively.”
Even with the poor offensive showing, Southern Miss was in a position to tie the game in the eighth inning. Matt Wallner led off the frame with his second double of the night, but two groundouts and a fly out ended the scoring try.
That was the theme for the night, too, as the Golden Eagles were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-17 with runners on base in general. It’s an eye-popping statistic, but Berry believes he’s seen worse in his career.
“Oh, I’m sure I have,” he said. “In 35 years, I’m sure it’s been worse than that at some point, but honestly, that (statistic) doesn’t surprise me. It was a bunch, I know. I sat there and watched and tried to figure it out. As a whole, we’re just not competing one through nine, and we haven’t over the last few games.”
Wallner and Gabe Montenegro totaled four of the team’s six hits in the contest, as Wallner doubled to start the second inning. He later came around to score when Will McGillis hit a sacrifice fly to right three batters later. That gave Southern Miss a 1-0 lead, but UNO would score two in the third inning to take the lead for good.
After picking up 34 hits in the Purdue series, Southern Miss now sits at 21 total in the last four games with a team batting average of .245. There isn’t a quick fix, Berry said after Tuesday’s game. He compared his team’s offense to a boxer on the ropes who isn’t fighting back in the middle of the ring.
“You challenge their attitude,” Berry said. “There’s not a quick fix other than just a mind adjustment. A mentality that you have to have to go up there, and basically, be tired of getting punched in the face and punch back is the way I look at it.
“We’re getting our back put on the ropes too much and giving in.”
Bright spot
Even with the offensive struggles, it’s easy to find something positive in Tuesday’s loss. Six bullpen arms combined to throw 6.2 innings of scoreless relief. Sean Tweedy, Cody Carroll, J.C. Keys and Hunter Stanley collectively pitched 3.1 innings of no-hit ball, while Alex Nelms allowed just one hit in three innings.
Jarod Wright got the start, and he struck out five while allowing two earned runs on six hits.
“I’m very proud of our pitching staff,” Berry said. “Man, they pitched well. You couldn’t ask any more from our pitching staff and how they’re giving our offense a chance.”
Nelms also recorded a career-high six strikeouts during his time on the bump, and the junior Gulfport native was a pitcher Berry raved out in the preseason. After UNO took a 2-1 lead in the third, it had a pair of runners on base looking for more, but Nelms came in and stopped the damage.
“He comes in and inherits runners at second and third and gets out of it,” Berry said. “It was a huge momentum swing. I don’t know what we followed up with our offense or if we made an opportunity, but we should, though.”
*Photo by Joe Harper.
