HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Matthew Russo singled up the middle in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Joey Urban to give No. 10 Southern Miss a 3-2 walk-off victory over New Orleans on Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park.
The Golden Eagles improved to 24-9 with their 37th walk-off win since the 2017 season and their fourth this year. The game was tied at 2-2 before Russo’s single sealed the win.
In the ninth, pinch hitter Caleb Stelly struck out on a nine-pitch at-bat to start the frame. Urban then drew a walk, and Seth Smith laid down a perfect bunt to put two runners on. After a strikeout by Kyle Morrison, Davis Gillespie drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Russo then hit Lane Alack’s pitch through the infield for the game-winning single.
Southern Miss trailed 2-0 after the first inning but scored single runs in the second and sixth innings to tie the game. Ben Higdon doubled to start the second and scored on Drey Barrett’s single. Barrett doubled in the sixth, scoring Morrison, who had walked earlier, after Russo’s single.
Starting pitcher Drake Meeks allowed both runs in the first but settled down, with relievers JW Armistead and Colby Allen shutting down the Privateers’ offense for the rest of the game. Allen earned the win, improving to 3-1, while Colby Allen pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
New Orleans left 15 runners on base and was shut out after the first inning. The Privateers fell to 14-21. Southern Miss returns to action Friday with a three-game series at Louisiana in Lafayette.
