Christopher Sargent has hit many home runs in his tenure at Southern Miss, but perhaps the hardest-hit ball of his career came in a 4-1 win over Arkansas State on Saturday.
On the first pitch of the sixth inning, Sargent hit a ball that quickly got out of Pete Taylor Park's centerfield wall. For Sargent, the moment was almost like hitting the right combination of buttons in a video game.
"When it comes to (MLB) The Show, the video game, that (swing) was probably perfect, to be honest with you," Sargent said. "Once I hit it, I knew it was gone.
"Pitching did really well yesterday and today for us. If (we) are pitching well, then we are going to hit. We have been hitting the ball really well lately. I feel like if we are hitting home runs, then we are rolling."
Sargent's intuition about the home run ball is right because, as of late, the Golden Eagles have begun to find consistency in the lineup, with the long ball being an imperative part of USM's lineup. Southern Miss' 52 home runs on the season are good for midpack in the Sun Belt at No. 6, but that mark moves to No. 4 in Sun Belt conference-only stats. In conference play, the Golden Eagles have hit 34 home runs.
Regardless the home run ball translates to a win as Southern Miss (27-15, 13-7 Sun Belt) holds a 23-8 record when the Golden Eagles hit a home run; by comparison, USM is 4-7 when the team doesn't hit a home run. Notably, the Golden Eagles have lost the last three games that they didn't hit a home run in.
The consistency from the lineup seems to have carried over to the pitching staff and could be best described by Billy Oldham as "calming." Oldham, who followed a career night from Friday starter Tanner Hall, struck out seven batters, walked two and gave up four and one run in seven innings against Arkansas State (15-24, 5-13).
Southern Miss is 10-12 when Southern Miss' pitching staff gives up a home run, but six of those losses are also games when the Golden Eagles did not hit a home run.
Oldham's lone run allowed was a solo home run by Arkansas State's Brandon Hager, whose home run ball traveled 427 feet over the centerfield wall and held an exit velocity of 109 mph.
"Unfortunately, they did get one off me, but I got to keep it as a solo shot," Oldham said. "Solo shots won't kill us. It's still unfortunate, but we can put some together too.
"That's awesome that our offense can do that as well. When we score in the first inning, it helps the pitching. I go out there, put up a zero, and then we score, and it calms everyone down. It's much easier to pitch with the lead in general."
Oldham was aided by an early lead from Sargent, who drove in a 2-run double in the first inning. Then in the third, Dustin Dickerson hit a solo home run over the left field wall to push the lead to 3-0.
"He's a phenomenal power hitter," said Berry on Sargent's turnaround success in the lineup. "He swings and misses, and that's what power hitters do. We would certainly like to hit for a higher average, but that young man has carried that 4-hole. I know there have been people who have questioned, 'Why do you keep hitting him in the 4-hole?' It's because I believe in him. I know what he can do.
"We are not trying to hit (home runs). We are trying to make good swings on good pitches and not miss those pitches."
Southern Miss will go for the sweep against Arkansas State on Sunday, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
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