HATTIESBURG, Miss – Southern Miss delivered a knockout blow in the fifth inning Thursday night when Jake Sandlin blasted a grand slam, propelling the 20th ranked Eagles to a 9-3 win over the Herd, setting up an elimination game rematch between Marshall and FIU.
“We got put in a great position (Thursday) night by getting that,” said center fielder Jake Sandlin, whose mammoth grand slam was the centerpiece of a five-run, third inning.
Marshall jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Aaron Bossi delivered an RBI single and Tyler Ratliff drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. However, the lead was short lived as Southern Miss responded in the bottom half of the inning.
Southern Miss catcher Chuckie Robinson followed up a run-scoring fielder’s choice with a 2 RBI single off Marshall starter Parker Danciu to give the Eagles a lead they never relinquished.
“I thought both starters came out and were overthrowing,” Marshall coach Jeff Waggoner said.
“They had some pitches up in the zone. Five runs were scored in the first inning, but their guy settled in and they put some good swings on the ball.”
Southern Miss blew the game open with five runs in the third, highlighted by Sandlin’s grand slam.
“One-hundred-percent, I knew I got it,” said Sandlin, who has driven in five runs and scored five run in two tournament games. “On a scale of one to 10, I hit it about a 12. I don’t think I’m going to hit any better anytime soon.”
After a shaky start, Southern Miss pitcher Kirk McCarty, settled in allowing just four hits and striking out three. Marshall scored just once more, a leadoff homer by Phil Ratliff in the top of the fourth inning.
Southern Miss remains unbeaten in the tournament and will have Friday off, waiting on the winner of the elimination game between the Herd and FIU.
Marshall defeated FIU 5-3 in the opening round of the tournament on Wednesday.