HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Kyle Morrison drove in five runs and had two hits to lead No. 10 Southern Mississippi to a 9-4 victory over North Alabama on Friday night at Pete Taylor Park.
The Golden Eagles improved to 12-2 with the win, rebounding from a loss to Nicholls earlier in the week. Starting pitcher Colby Allen pitched six strong innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with five strikeouts. Kros Sivley finished with a three-inning save, giving up one run on three hits.
The game featured challenging wind conditions that affected fielders throughout. In the top of the first inning, Nash Rippen hit a ball into left field that was misplayed, resulting in a two-run inside-the-park homer for Rippen, his fifth of the season. Southern Miss responded in the bottom half with a walk, a single, and Morrison’s third home run of the year, a shot over the center-field wall, giving the Eagles a 4-2 lead after one inning.
North Alabama trimmed the deficit with a solo home run from Rippen in the third. Southern Miss added to its lead with a triple from Morrison and timely hitting, including a run-scoring single from Matthew Russo that allowed two runs to score in the sixth. Morrison’s triple also contributed to the offense, which produced nine hits overall.
The Lions (7-7) scored their final run in the ninth on an RBI single by Petey Craska. Sivley earned his first save of the season, striking out three and allowing just one run.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again Saturday at noon. The game was moved up two hours due to expected bad weather in the area, according to school officials.
Southern Miss returns to action Saturday at noon against North Alabama, with the game moved earlier due to forecasted weather conditions, according to the university.
