Matthew Russo Drives in Six Runs as Southern Miss Sweeps Georgia Southern
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Matthew Russo drove in a career-high six runs, including a decisive three-run homer in the eighth inning, as No. 8 Southern Miss defeated Georgia Southern 11-0 in eight innings Saturday at Pete Taylor Park. The Golden Eagles completed a three-game sweep of the Eagles and clinched the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship, according to school officials.
The win, combined with Coastal Carolina’s 3-2 loss at Louisiana, secured Southern Miss’s first regular-season conference title since 2022. The Golden Eagles finished league play with a 22-8 record, going 14-1 over their last five series. They also extended their winning streak to nine games and have now won 20 consecutive regular-season games in May.
Russo and Kyle Morrison led Southern Miss’s 14-hit attack with three hits each. Russo’s night included a two-run double in the first inning, which helped start a five-run rally. Seth Smith opened the game with a solo home run, his fourth of the year, and Drey Barrett added a two-run homer later in the inning, forcing Georgia Southern starter Alex Mason to exit early.
Mason suffered the loss for the Eagles, falling to 3-5 after allowing five runs on four hits in two innings. Davis Gillespie added an RBI groundout in the second, and Ty Long’s double drove in a run in the third to make it 7-0. Russo’s final two RBIs came on a single in the sixth, and his three-run homer in the eighth sealed the victory. The shot traveled 412 feet to right-center field, ending the game and marking Russo’s final collegiate regular-season at-bat at home.
Starting pitcher Camden Sunstrom earned the win, allowing no runs on three hits over six innings. Relievers Josh Och and Colby Allen completed the shutout, with Allen striking out five in two innings. The victory marked Southern Miss’s third shutout of the season. The Golden Eagles will next compete Wednesday in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama. Tournament bracket details are expected later Saturday evening.
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