Urban and Morrison Homer as Southern Miss Beats Louisiana Tech 8-3

RUSTON, La. — Joey Urban and Kyle Morrison each hit home runs to power Southern Miss to an 8-3 road win over Louisiana Tech on Friday evening at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The Golden Eagles improved to 8-1 with their eighth consecutive victory and are undefeated on the road at 5-0, according to school officials.

Southern Miss started strong, scoring twice in the first inning. Ben Hidgon led off with a single, and Urban followed with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field. Starting pitcher Colby Allen struggled in the second, allowing unearned runs after a fielding error by Seth Smith. Casey McCoy tied the game with his second homer of the season in that inning.

Louisiana Tech took the lead in the third. Corey Lunsford doubled and later scored on Cade Patterson’s single. Allen kept the Bulldogs off the bases until the fifth, finishing with 4 2/3 innings, three runs (one earned), five strikeouts and two walks. The Golden Eagles took the lead for good in the fourth, with Morrison hitting a three-run homer after a double by Davis Gillespie and a single by Drey Barrett.

Relievers Kros Sivley and Josh Och contained the Bulldogs in the late innings. Sivley earned his second win of the season, pitching 1 2/3 innings and striking out two. Och recorded his first save, retiring all eight batters he faced, including five straight strikeouts to end the game.

Southern Miss added three insurance runs in the eighth. Urban doubled, Gillespie singled him home, and Smith’s two-run single capped the scoring. Louisiana Tech starter Declan Dahl took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The series continues with a Saturday game scheduled for 4 p.m., according to school officials.

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