A rain‑soaked evening in Hattiesburg turned into a showcase of resilience for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, who rallied from a weather‑delayed start to defeat Troy 7‑6 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
A Walk‑Off for the Ages
The game, originally slated for an 11 a.m. first‑round slot, didn't get underway until 7:30 p.m., but the delay only amplified the drama as Drey Barrett stepped up to the plate in the ninth inning and launched a walk‑off grand slam that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Barrett's heroics were not limited to that decisive swing; earlier in the contest he had already cracked a solo homer in the sixth and finished with six RBIs, underscoring a performance that left the Golden Eagles with a 41‑year‑old program record of 11 straight victories dating back to May 2.
Coach Christian Ostrander praised Troy's pitching, noting that starter Benjamin Stubbs limited Southern Miss to two runs on seven hits over five innings, yet the Golden Eagles still managed 11 hits while stranding nine runners.
The lineup also featured Seth Davis, Joey Urban, Kyle Morrison, Davis Gillespie and Matt Russo, each contributing to the offensive effort that set the stage for Barrett's decisive swing.
With the win, Southern Miss solidified its status as the No. 1 seed in the tournament and positioned itself to host an NCAA regional in Hattiesburg, a prospect that could boost local tourism and recruiting.
The team now faces a May 23 showdown against the survivor of the losers' bracket, a match that could propel them into the championship game on May 24 and keep their hopes alive for a top‑eight national seed.