April 19, 2003

Box Score

Memphis, Tenn.-- - A three-run homer by Jarrett Hoffpauir in the eighth inning lifted No. 22 Southern Miss to a 7-5 victory over Memphis in Conference USA baseball action Saturday at Nat Buring Stadium. Hoffpauir's home run was his fourth of the season and gave the Golden Eagles (29-10, 13-4 C-USA) their ninth-consecutive series win including six in league play to start the season.

The Tigers (12-26, 4-13 C-USA) rallied to take their first lead of the game with a four-run sixth inning. Centerfielder Kevin House had his second-consecutive multi-hit game in the series for Memphis.

Southern Miss staged a two-out to score a pair of runs in the top of the first. After Rowan retired the first two Golden Eagles, USM put together three hits to build a 2-0 lead. Centerfielder Jeff Cook started the rally with a double off the leftfield wall and came around to score on a RBI single by designated hitter Brad Wilcutt. Marc Maddox drove Willcut in with a single up the middle.

Catcher Kurt Welch put the Tigers on the board in the third with a RBI single up the middle. Leftfielder Chad House walked to leadoff the inning and scored his team-leading 28th run of the season on Welch's single.

Memphis took its first lead of the game in the sixth on a three-run homer by Jordan Hart as the Tigers scored four runs to take a 5-2 advantage. Designated hitter Ryan Martin hit a one-out single up the middle to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Martin stole second and scored on a RBI single by House after Kyle Scott drew a walk to put to Tigers on base. That set the stage for Hart's fifth home run of the season coming off USM reliever Ray Antonelli.

Rowan, who allowed just two hits between the second and sixth innings, gave up two hits and a run in the seventh as the Golden Eagles cut the Memphis lead to 5-3. Rowan did end the two-out rally by striking out Cook for his seventh punch out of the game. Leftfielder Jason Lowery had the RBI single for the visitors.

The Golden Eagles added three runs in the eighth off Rowan and four total to take a 7-5 lead. After an infield single by Clint King and walk to Marc Maddox, second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir cleared the bases with a three-run homer. The home run by Hoffpauir chased Rowan from the game and the Golden Eagles were able to extend their lead to 7-5 off Memphis reliever Bill Edwards who hit a batter and gave up a RBI double to catcher Kevin Coker before getting out of the inning.

USM closer Austin Tubb entered the contest with one out in the eighth and was able to keep the Tigers off to board to preserve the victory for the Golden Eagles and pick up his fifth save of the season. John Nicholas allowed just a walk in 1.1 innings of work to pick up the victory for the Golden Eagles. Rowan (2-2) took the loss for the Tigers allowing six earned runs on nine hits and four walks in 7.1 innings of work.

The Tigers and Golden Eagles will conclude their series on Easter Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. at Nat Buring.