Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Arkansas State (14-5, 1-0 SBC) surged late with four runs in the seventh inning against No. 7 Southern Miss (15-3, 0-1 SBC) to clinch the conference opener 8-5 Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium-Slayton Family Field.
The win over the Golden Eagles marks the first time in program history A-State has secured wins over two different top-10 teams in the same season, the first home win over a ranked opponent since 2016, and the 11th total win against a top-10 team, all in front of a record crowd of 1,748.
Southern Miss took the lead first with a three-run homer in the top of the third, but Arkansas State was able to steal one back at the bottom of the inning. Kaden Amundson shadowed the left field line to land on second, and Lane Walton batted him home with a single in the left field gap.
A-State then tied it up in the next inning thanks to Amundson rocking his first home run of the season over the left field wall for the 3-3 tie, Raul Torres crossing the plate in front of him.
Chase Richter made the start for A-State, setting a career-high in innings pitched (6.1) as well as tying his career strikeouts (7).
The tie held across the next two innings until Ashton Quiller singled as the leadoff hitter in the seventh to get the offense rolling. A Patrick Engskov single let Quiller make it to third, and Evan Griffis drew his third walk of the night to load the bases. Aidan Houseworth dropped a double near the left field line to clear the bases for the 6-3 lead before rounding all the way home the next at bat when Cason Campbell singled into right field.
The Red Wolves added another insurance run in the eighth, with Quiller crossing the plate on an Engskov single.
Southern Miss threatened in the top of the ninth with a two-RBI single with one out, but was unable to find the extra three runs before the final two outs.
Win: Tyler Weimer (3-0)
Loss: Camden Sunstrom (1-1)
UP NEXT
A-State continues the conference-opening series at home against No. 7 Southern Miss this weekend, with a 6 p.m. start Saturday, March 14.
