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Box Score

Golden Eagles Defeat Charlotte, 11-4, In First of Three-Game Conference USA Series

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Southern Miss’ Patrick Ezell spread out three hits over seven scoreless innings, Marc Maddox hit two two-run homers and Matt Shepherd finished with four hits and drove in three runs to lead the Golden Eagles to an 11-4 victory over Charlotte, tonight, at Tom and Lib Phillips Field.

Ezell (5-1) posted one of his best performances of the season, earning his fifth win, giving up a hit in each of the second, sixth and seventh innings. He gave up two walks and struck out five in seven innings pitched. Justin Brown (2-5) dropped his fifth decision of the season, giving up 10 runs, eight earned, on 12 hits, walking five and striking out four batters.

Southern Miss was paced by Shepherd, who led all hitters with his 4-for-6 performance at the plate, hitting two doubles and driving in three runs. Maddox finished 3-for-6, scoring three runs, hitting two home runs and collected four RBIs. Ryan Frith finished with four hits in five plate appearances and collected two RBIs. Jarrett Hoffpauir finished with two hits, including his 21^st double of the season. Charlotte had six players finish with one hit each.

The Golden Eagles finished with 11 runs on 15 hits, while Charlotte scored four runs on six hits and committed two errors.

Southern Miss took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Shepherd singled to lead off the inning just before Maddox hit his 10^th home run of the season to left center.

Maddox blasted his second homer of the night in the fourth inning, giving Southern Miss a 4-0 lead. Shepherd hit a two-out single up the middle, before Maddox blasted his 11^th round-tripper of the season.

Southern Miss added four more runs in the fifth inning, extending its lead to 8-0. Carlos Velasquez reached on a one-out walk and scored on Jason Lowery’s homer to left centerfield, his eighth of the year. Beau Griffin was hit by a pitch, moved to second when Kevin Coker reached on a fielding error by Charlotte second baseman Michael Roane. Both scored on Shepherd’s double to left center.

The Golden Eagles ran their lead to 10-0 in the sixth, scoring two runs off a Frith double down the left field line. Maddox led off the inning with a single to left center and advanced to third on back-to-back walks to Brad Willcutt and Velasquez. Frith drove a double down the left field line, scoring Maddox and Velasquez.

Charlotte picked up two runs in the eighth inning, cutting the Golden Eagle lead to 10-2. Adam Floyd drew a one-out walk, moved to second when Corey Lane was hit by a pitch., moved to third on Thomas Bowker’s fielder’ choice grounder to short and then scored when Adam Willard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. With the bases still loaded, Bower scored when Jamie Rusco was hit by a pitch.

Griffin led off the ninth inning with double down the right field line and scored on Shepherd’s double to left field to extend the Southern Miss lead to 11-2. Charlotte scored two more runs in the bottom of the ninth, before Tubb came on in relief and finished the game, forcing a double play and striking out Michael Roane to end the game.

Southern Miss and Charlotte meet for the second game of the three-game Conference USA series on Saturday at 5 p.m.