It was a dominating weekend for Southern Miss as the Golden Eagles completed the sweep of Arkansas State with a 17-7 run-rule win on Sunday.
The Golden Eagles outscored the Red Wolves 33–9 and hit eight home runs over the weekend, including five more in the series' final game.
"We learned last weekend from Coastal Carolina," said Southern Miss coach Scott Berry. "Their hitters had an unbelievable plan at the plate. They extended at-bats. They spoiled pitches…We identified some characteristics of what Coastal Carolina did against us. Sometimes you learn from the opponent. I think addressing that, I have seen our at-bats improve.
"When you can get crooked number home runs, certainly those runs add up."
JOHNSON AND PAETOW'S BIG DAY
One of the most welcoming signs was the return of right fielder Carson Paetow and catcher Blake Johnson. Both players had missed games this week due to hamstring injuries. The duo combined to go 7-for-9 with nine RBIs, Johnson hitting two home runs and Paetow hitting a grand slam.
"At Coastal on Sunday, I was running and pulled my hamstring," said Paetow on how his injury occurred. "Thankfully, it was a minor one, according to the trainers. I've been rehabbing it a little bit and icing it. I had it wrapped up today.
"(This season) is not what I was wanting or anticipating, but if you think too hard about it and get in your head, then it's not going to do anything good for you. One of the challenges is taking adversity later in the season. Sometimes you get caught up on success and the highs, but then when the lows hit, it feels even lower than what they are. We take it day by day and play even keel."
With the game tied at 4-4 in the third inning, Paetow's bat came alive with an RBI double. Johnson followed with a 2-run home run that led to a 4-run inning and pushed the USM lead to 8-4. Paetow's grand slam came in the fourth inning, which extended the Golden Eagles' lead to 12-4.
"Carson is a really hard worker," Johnson said. "He's a great guy and great teammate. We have been in the cages, not together, but on our own. He is working hard and trying to figure it out. Same with me, it's getting in there every day and sticking to a plan and trying to get it figured out."
Johnson's second homer came in the seventh inning, while his final hit of the day was a 2-run double in the eighth inning to set up the run rule. According to Johnson, he didn't think either ball would leave the park.
"No, not really," said Johnson if he knew immediately that he had hit a home run in either at-bat. "I've got a bum hamstring right now. When I hit it, I thought it was either getting caught or going out, but it snuck out.
"I (hit two home runs) in JUCO at Delgado. It's been four years, so it's been a while."
MATT ADAMS RETURNS
Despite the dominant day at the plate, Southern Miss (28-15, 14-7 Sun Belt) fell behind 2-0 to Arkansas (15-25, 5-14) State at the start of the game.
Southern Miss starting pitcher Matthew Adams made his return to the mound for the first time since the second game of the Old Dominion series back on April 8. The right-hander missed the series against James Madison and Coastal Carolina due to a shoulder injury.
Adams' return outing was somewhat disappointing as he lasted just 1.2 innings. In his appearance, he allowed three runs off three hits, walked one batter, and did not record a strikeout.
"The numbers certainly don't point to what you want," Berry said. "What I liked was that his velocity is where it needs to be. You have to understand he's been three weeks removed from the mound. He never threw a live pen before today. He threw two pens, but not against a hitter, basically to make sure his arm was responding and that there was no pain."
A 3-run home run by Reece Ewing helped give USM a 4-2 lead by the end of the first inning. The Red Wolves scored two more runs in the second inning after reliever Chase Adams slipped and threw a ball off the mark to first base.
Southern Miss' bullpen took control of the game with Isaiah Rhodes, Will Armistead and Kros Sivley combining to allow three runs off four hits and striking out 11 batters. Armistead allowed all three runs, but two runs came off solo home runs, with the third scoring in the eighth inning. Matthew Etzel finished the game with a 3-run home run.
Southern Miss returns to action on Tuesday as the Golden Eagles host Tulane for their final midweek game of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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