Arkansas State beats Southern Miss 5-2 to win series

JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State used a strong start and power hitting to beat Southern Miss 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium, capturing the Sun Belt Conference series.

The Red Wolves scored three runs in the first inning, capitalizing on two first-inning errors by Southern Miss. Patrick Engskov singled, and Evan Griffis drew a walk before a misplayed ground ball allowed the first run. A wild pitch brought in the second, and an error by Kyle Morrison allowed the third run.

Southern Miss (16-4, 1-2 Sun Belt) responded with a run in the fourth. Davis Gillespie doubled, and Ben Higdon scored on a wild pickoff throw. The Golden Eagles trimmed the lead to one after Joey Urban homered in the sixth, his seventh home run this season.

The Golden Eagles threatened in the seventh and eighth innings but failed to score. They left two runners on base in the seventh and had Urban tagged out at home in the eighth after a wild pitch.

Arkansas State extended its lead with solo home runs from Griffis and Cason Campbell in the eighth. Dylan Farley earned the win, pitching six-plus innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with four strikeouts. McCarty English took the loss, giving up three unearned runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Cooper Garrison finished for the Red Wolves, earning his third save. Southern Miss now prepares to face Nicholls on Tuesday at Keesler Federal Ballpark in Biloxi, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.

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