Southern Miss pummels Rice, claims series win
Southern Miss hit four home runs — including a grand slam from Matt Guidry — on its way to a 17-6 victory over Rice Sunday at Reckling Park.
The power display by the 16th-ranked Golden Eagles helped them become the first team to win two three-game series against the Owls in Houston since Wayne Graham’s club joined Conference USA in 2006.
The win also means Southern Miss (28-9, 12-3) moves back into sole possession of first place in the C-USA standings. Florida Atlantic, which started the day tied with Scott Berry’s squad, lost to Marshall 7-0, to fall a game back in the pecking order. Old Dominion, just one game behind Southern Miss and FAU after Saturday’s action, also lost (7-3 to Louisiana Tech) to fall two games behind the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss’ bats helped the team overcome a rough start on the pitcher’s mound by starter J.C. Keys. The former Oak Grove star gave up two hits, walked two and was charged with four earned runs without getting an out.
Staring at a 4-2 deficit in the third inning, Guidry blasted a Glenn Otto (3-3) offering over the right field wall to drive in four runs. Southern Miss added three more runs in the fourth on a two-run homer from Taylor Braley, his ninth, and a solo shot off Cole Donaldson’s bat. Braley finished the game with five runs batted in.
Colt Smith (2-0) picked up the win in relief of Keys. The junior right-hander gave up a run on six hits in 4 ⅔ innings. Nick Sandlin gave Southern Miss 3 ⅓ innings of two-hit, shutout ball, striking out six.
Rice (13-25, 4-11) has lost more than 24 games for the first time since 1992.
Southern Miss falters vs. Rice
Dylan Burdeaux extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a pair of singles and a double. The senior first baseman has multiple hits in 12 of those 14 games. Guidry and Mason Irby also put up three hits apiece. Daniel Keating accounted for the visitors’ fourth home run of the day, which came in Southern Miss’ five-run ninth inning.
The Golden Eagles, who tied a season-high with 18 hits, return to action at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, when they face Nicholls State at MGM Park in Biloxi.
