University of Houston
Southern Miss
Baseball Drops Series Opener at Southern Miss on Friday
4/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 25, 2008
Complete Houston-Southern Miss Game Book (April 25, 2008) in PDF Format 
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss scored 12 runs during the middle three innings on the way to a 12-9 win over the 28th-ranked University of Houston baseball team Friday night during the opener of a Conference USA series at Hill Denson Field at Pete Taylor Park.
The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning on senior second baseman Ryan Lormand's bases-clearing double. But the Golden Eagles struck for four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth and seized control of the contest with six runs in the sixth.
UH rebounded with six runs during the final three innings but would get no closer in dropping its fifth straight games to the Golden Eagles.
Lormand went 3-for-5 with two double and a career-high seven RBIs to lead the Cougar offense. His total was tied Bryan Pounds' UH season-high against Rice on March 26 and topped his previous best of four set most recently at East Carolina on March 21.
Sophomore centerfielder Zak Presley went 1-for-3 with a run and stolen base to extend his career-high hitting streak to 14 straight games.
Chris Matesich went 2-for-4 with a run, double, home run and five RBIs, while Kyle Maxie went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored to lead the Golden Eagles who outhit UH 10-8.
USM starter Josh Billeaud earned the win and evened his season record at 3-3 after holding the Cougars to five runs off five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
UH starter Wes Musick collected his second straight loss and fell to 7-3 after surrendering six runs off seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
With the loss, the Cougars fell to 26-14 and 8-5 in C-USA games. Southern Miss improved to 29-13 and 7-6 in league games.
The series continues at 4 p.m., Saturday before wrapping up at 1 p.m., Sunday. Sophomore righthander John Touchton is scheduled to throw for the Cougars with redshirt freshman righthander Todd McInnis expected to take the hill for the Golden Eagles.
Fans can hear all Cougar Baseball games live at UHCougars.com by clicking the appropriate links. Jeremy Branham will call the play-by-play action while former letterwinner Pat Cauley provides color analysis.
Fans always can follow live stats by clicking on the Gametracker link.
The Cougars put the first mark on the scoreboard in the third inning. After walks to Jake Stewart and Jimmy Cesario and Bryan Pounds' single loaded the bases, Lormand cleared the bags with a double to the wall in right center.
Southern Miss grabbed the lead in the fourth inning with four runs off four hits and a Cougar error. Keith Winstead led off with a home run to right center, Michael Ewing scored on a UH infield miscue and Bo Davis's two-run shot gave the Golden Eagles their first lead.
The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 6-3 in the next inning on Matesich's sacrifice fly to center field and Josh Fields' two-out RBI-single up the middle.
In the sixth inning, USM broke the game wide open with six runs on only two hits, thanks to two walks and a pair of hit batters. Ewing started the scoring with a bases-loaded walk, Matesich followed with a grand slam and Kyle Maxie added a solo home run as the Golden Eagles took command.
The Cougars pulled to within 12-5 in the seventh inning. After loading the bases on Blake Kelso's single and back-to-back walks to Jake Stewart and Bryan Pounds, Lormand lined a two-run double down the left field line.
In the eighth inning, the Cougars again loaded the bases when Bryan Tully led off with a double, Presley was walked and Kelso was hit by a pitch. Stewart lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Tully. After a walk to Pounds loaded the bases, Jimmy Cesario drew a walk to force Presley in and Lormand followed with a two-run single up the middle to pull UH to within 12-9.
However, that would be as close as the Cougars would get.
