Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Arkansas State (14-6, 1-1 SBC) held No. 7 Southern Miss (16-3, 0-1 SBC) within striking distance through the first eight innings until a late Golden Eagle surge Saturday night at Tomlinson Stadium-Slayton Family Field in the 7-1 final score.
Arkansas State reset the attendance record for the third time this season with 1,972 fans in attendance, breaking Friday night’s attendance record of 1,748.
Southern Miss scored in the first frame with a two-run shot to right field, but Jack Nelson responded by striking out the final two batters of the inning.
Going down in order in the first, Arkansas State was able to tally a hit each of the next four frames, but could not string any together.
Nelson marched on through 5.0 innings, including striking out the side in the third inning and totaling a season-high nine strikeouts before finishing his day in the sixth.
Southern Miss added one more in the sixth for the 3-0 lead, the runner advancing to third during an infield double play.
The Red Wolves notched one on the board with a pinch-hit blast from Cason Campbell in the bottom of the seventh to cut the USM lead to two, but A-State fell silent following the homer.
Senior Brett Foss relieved Nelson for 3.0 innings of one-hit ball, fanning out two Golden Eagles in the top of the seventh.
Southern Miss opened up the gates in the ninth with three walks and three hits to plate four insurance runs, with A-State unable to respond in the bottom half of the inning.
Win: Grayden Harris (4-0)
Loss: Jack Nelson (1-2)
UP NEXT
A-State hosts No. 7 Southern Miss this Sunday in the rubber match, with first pitch set for 12 p.m.
