The first weekend of Sun Belt Conference play served as an early wake-up call for the 7th ranked Golden Eagles.
After riding a surge of national momentum that included three straight Tuesday night victories over SEC opponents, Southern Miss traveled to Jonesboro looking to keep its winning rhythm going. Instead, Arkansas State used timely offense and late-inning execution to take two of three games from the Golden Eagles at Tomlinson Stadium.
Southern Miss still boasts one of the most impressive resumes in the country early in the season, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back midweek wins over Alabama, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. And series wins over UCSB, Louisiana Tech and the Round Rock Classic. But the Arkansas State series showed how difficult the Sun Belt grind can be, even for a nationally ranked team.
Game 1 – Arkansas State 8, Southern Miss 5
No. 7 Southern Miss saw its four-game winning streak snapped Friday night as Arkansas State used a four-run seventh inning to take the Sun Belt opener 8–5 at Tomlinson Stadium.
The Golden Eagles jumped out early in the third inning when Joey Urban blasted a three-run homer to right, his sixth of the season, scoring Seth Smith and Caleb Stelly to give Southern Miss a 3–0 lead. Arkansas State answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Lane Walton and a two-run homer by Kaden Amundson to tie the game.
The turning point came in the seventh when the Red Wolves loaded the bases against reliever Camden Sunstrom. Aidan Houseworth cleared the bases with a double, and Cason Campbell followed with an RBI single to push Arkansas State in front 7–3.
Southern Miss threatened in the eighth after Ben Higdon, Drey Barrett, and Kyle Morrison opened the inning with three straight singles, but the Eagles couldn’t push a run across. They added two runs in the ninth on a Davis Gillespie two-run single, but the rally ended there.
Starter Colby Allen worked five innings for Southern Miss, allowing three runs on six hits, while Tyler Weimber earned the win out of the Arkansas State bullpen.
Game 2 – Southern Miss 7, Arkansas State 1
No. 7 Southern Miss bounced back Saturday evening, evening the Sun Belt series with a 7–1 win over Arkansas State behind a strong outing from Grayden Harris and a big night at the plate from Davis Gillespie.
The Golden Eagles struck quickly in the first inning when Matthew Russo worked a one-out walk before Gillespie launched a two-run homer to right field, his fourth of the season, to give Southern Miss an early 2–0 lead.
Harris handled the rest from the mound. The right-hander tossed six shutout innings, allowing six hits while striking out four without issuing a walk to improve to 4–0 on the season.
Southern Miss added another run in the sixth. Ben Higdon, who reached base four times, opened the inning with a walk before Drey Barrett singled to right. Higdon eventually scored on a Kyle Morrison groundout, stretching the Eagles’ lead to 3–0.
Arkansas State starter Jack Nelson kept the game within reach for much of the night, striking out nine over six innings, but the Southern Miss offense broke it open late.
The Golden Eagles put the game away with four runs in the ninth. Gray Eubanks collected his first collegiate hit and RBI, while Russo drew a bases-loaded walk and Higdon delivered an RBI double during the rally.
Southern Miss’ bullpen sealed the win. Josh Och struck out three over two innings, allowing only a solo homer to Cason Campbell, while Camden Clark closed the game with a perfect ninth.
Game 3 – Arkansas State 5, Southern Miss 2
Arkansas State capitalized on early Southern Miss mistakes and added late insurance runs to defeat No. 7 Southern Miss 5–2 Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium, clinching the Sun Belt Conference series.
The Red Wolves took control immediately in the first inning. After two outs, Patrick Engskov singled and Evan Griffis drew a walk against Southern Miss starter McCarty English. What appeared to be an inning-ending ground ball was misplayed at shortstop, allowing the first run to score. A wild pitch brought home another run, and a second fielding error—this time by Kyle Morrison—allowed Arkansas State to push across a third run and take an early 3–0 lead.
Southern Miss chipped away in the fourth inning. With two outs, Davis Gillespie doubled to left-center and Ben Higdon followed with an infield single. Gillespie later scored when a pickoff attempt at first base sailed into the outfield, cutting the deficit to two.
The Golden Eagles pulled closer in the sixth when Joey Urban delivered another opposite-field home run, his seventh of the season, trimming the Arkansas State lead to 3–2.
Southern Miss threatened to take control late but couldn’t cash in. In the seventh, Higdon walked and Morrison doubled to put two runners in scoring position, but Arkansas State escaped with a strikeout and a flyout. The Eagles loaded the bases in the eighth as well, but a pitch that bounced off the backstop ricocheted back to the catcher, who tagged Urban out at home to end the rally.
Arkansas State then created separation in the bottom of the eighth when Evan Griffis and Cason Campbell each launched solo home runs to push the lead to 5–2.
Red Wolves starter Dylan Farley earned the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over six-plus innings while striking out four. McCarty English took the loss for Southern Miss after allowing three unearned runs in the opening frame. Cooper Garrison recorded the final four outs to secure his third save.
The loss dropped Southern Miss to 16–4 overall and 1–2 in Sun Belt play, while Arkansas State improved to 15–6 (2–1 SBC) and claimed the weekend series.
The Golden Eagles now turn their attention to Nicholls State, whom they will face Tuesday night at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi.
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