HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Taylor Braley drove in the decisive run with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift No. 21 Southern Miss to a 5-1 win over FIU Saturday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg.
The Golden Eagles (26-6, 10-1 Conference USA) have won the first two games of the three-game series against the Panthers (17-14, 5-6).
FIU trailed 1-0 in the top of the fifth before tying the score.
Kobe Lopez, who reached base on a bunt single, later scored on a wild pitch by USM starter Hayden Roberts.
USM answered in the bottom of the fifth against FIU starter
Tyler Myrick (3-2). Storme Cooper singled and Myrick hit Mason Irby with a pitch and walked Hunter Slater before Braley delivered the go-ahead hit.
In the top of the eighth, trailing 4-1, FIU brought the tying run to the plate after
Javier Valdes doubled and
JC Escarra was hit by a pitch by USM reliever Colt Smith (1-0). Golden Eagles closer Nick Sandlin came in from the bullpen and struck out
Nick Day to end the threat.
Myrick went five innings, allowed three hits and two earned runs.
Valdes was 2 for 3 for the Panthers.
FIU and USM conclude the three-game set Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. EDT before the Panthers begin a four-game home stand Tuesday against Bethune-Cookman at the FIU ballpark.
