MONTGOMERY, Ala. – It's almost a postseason tradition for Southern Miss to have an emerging pitcher deliver a desperately needed performance to preserve arms in the pitching staff.
Two years ago, it was Tanner Hall against Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional. Last season it was Justin Storm against LSU in the Hattiesburg Regional, and as of now, this year's breakout game belongs to Will Armistead, who pitched a complete seven innings in Southern Miss' 11-1 run-rule over Appalachian State that sends the Golden Eagles to the Sun Belt conference tournament championship game.
The victory also extends Southern Miss' streak of 40-win seasons to seven straight years, which is the longest active in Division I baseball. That consistent winning is what head coach Scott Berry pointed to on how his program has been able to come up with such clutch performances through the years.
"When you continue to win year after year, it teaches itself to your players," Berry said. "This is not new getting to a title game tomorrow. This is who we are. This is who we have been for quite a while now. We missed it last year at our own place, but this is where we're supposed to be. The moment is set for us to go out for the opportunity. Now it's up to us to take care of the opportunity and meet that challenge."
WILL ARMISTEAD'S COMPLETE GAME
Although Armistead had been an emerging arm for Southern Miss throughout the season, it was the first time in over two years that the right-hander had pitched over seven innings, not to mention it helped Southern Miss avoid elimination after losing to App State earlier in the day in a 4-2 loss.
In his final season at Itawamba CC, Armistead tore his flexor pronator muscle in his throwing arm and ended his season after pitching in just four games. His last outing that lasted seven innings occurred during his freshman year back on May 7, 2021.
"When I got on the mound and in the game, the adrenaline is going," Armistead said. "You don't really feel a whole lot of pain, but I probably will tomorrow.
"I knew the coaching staff wanted me to go as long as possible to save arms and give us the best possible chance to win tomorrow."
In the previous game against Southern Miss, App State's lineup had 12 hits, was 11-for-21 on advancement opportunities and 6-for-18 with runners on base.
Against Armistead, App State scored one run that was unearned, as he gave up just four hits while striking out three batters and walking two.
"I try not to let the moment get too big," Armistead said. "I think of it like it's just another game. I don't really visualize the opponent. They are nameless and faceless. I like to think that the burden of success is placed upon me solely on the mound. If I want to succeed, it's about the ability for me to execute my stuff which I like to think is good."
LINEUP PRODUCTION
In the first game's loss to App State, Southern Miss' lineup had just five hits, was 2-for14 in advancement opportunities and 0-for-13 with runners on base.
"We knew we had to come out and swinging, and it was obviously unfortunate that we lost the first game, but we were playing with the hand that we were dealt," said Carson Paetow, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI. "It was win or go home, so we had to be aggressive from the gate. We knew it was do or I do, so that was our mentality going in."
In the second game, the Golden Eagles put up 15 hits, were 16-for-23 in advancement opportunities and 11-for-21 with runners on base.
Southern Miss jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead by the end of the second inning, with Christopher Sargent hitting a 2-run double in the first and then Matthew Etzel hitting an RBI single in the second.
App State managed to plate a run in the third, but USM responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Three of those runs came off RBI doubles by Danny Lynch, Nick Monistere and Etzel. Dustin Dickerson added the final run on an RBI single.
After two more runs scored in the sixth off a 2-run double by Carson Paetow, the Golden Eagles sealed the run-rule win after Slade Wilks hit a solo home run and a sacrifice fly by Lynch to end the game in the seventh inning.
Southern Miss will now wait to play the winner of the Louisiana-Coastal Carolina semifinal matchup in the championship. First pitch for the championship game is set for 1 p.m.
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