Southern Miss erupted in the ninth inning of a rain‑delayed Sun Belt Conference Tournament game, turning a 6‑6 tie into a 7‑6 victory over Troy with a walk‑off grand slam by Drey Barrett.
The Turning Point
The win, which came after the scheduled 11 a.m. start was pushed back to 7:30 p.m., improved the Golden Eagles to an 11‑game winning streak and locked in a hosting slot for an NCAA regional, while also keeping their top‑eight seed aspirations alive.
Coach Christian Ostrander praised Troy’s pitching but highlighted Barrett’s clutch performance, noting that the sophomore’s two homers and six RBIs marked a career‑high moment highlighted by his first-ever walk‑off homer.
Troy’s starter Benjamin Stubbs had kept the Eagles at bay for five innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out seven, but the bullpen could not hold the lead.
Despite out‑hitting Troy 11‑9, Southern Miss stranded nine runners, underscoring lingering defensive inefficiencies that the coaching staff will need to address before the next round.
The Golden Eagles are set to reconvene on May 23, with a chance to advance to the championship game on May 24, a prospect that could further cement their postseason trajectory.