The No. 8 Southern Miss Golden Eagles secured a hard-fought 8-7 victory over Old Dominion on Saturday, a result that finalized a critical Southern Miss baseball series victory. The win allowed the Golden Eagles to take two out of three games in the series, moving their overall record to 23-9 and their Sun Belt Conference mark to 7-5.
The contest was defined by a dramatic swing in momentum during the final third of the game. For much of the afternoon, the Golden Eagles maintained control, but a sudden offensive surge by the Monarchs threatened to derail the ranked squad. Old Dominion, currently 14-17 (4-8), seized a 7-6 lead in the seventh inning, scoring six runs in a single frame to stun the visitors.
That seventh-inning rally was powered by a disciplined attack: Will Johnson sparked the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single from TJ Aiken. The lead was cemented by Tyler Zedalis, who drove in three runs with a decisive double. However, the resilience that has defined Southern Miss’s season emerged in the closing acts.
Late-Inning Resilience and the Comeback
The Golden Eagles refused to let the seventh-inning collapse dictate the outcome. In the eighth, Seth Smith delivered a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 7-7, shifting the pressure back onto the Old Dominion pitching staff. The deadlock persisted until the ninth inning, when Ben Higdon stepped to the plate.
Facing Kellen Davis, Higdon connected for an RBI double that put Southern Miss ahead for good. The victory was sealed by pitcher Camden Clark, who provided essential stability by throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. The result reinforces Southern Miss’s position as a top-10 contender as the season progresses toward the postseason.
This game serves as a microcosm of the volatility inherent in collegiate baseball, where a single inning can erase a lead, but depth in the bullpen and timely hitting can salvage a series. For Old Dominion, the loss is a missed opportunity to play spoiler against a top-ranked opponent, while for the Golden Eagles, it is a testament to their ability to perform under pressure.
ACC Powerhouses Clash in Virginia
While the Sun Belt action was heating up, the Atlantic Coast Conference saw a clash of titans in Charlottesville. No. 7 Florida State asserted its dominance with a 9-3 victory over No. 10 Virginia at Disharoon Park. The Seminoles, now 24-7 (9-3 ACC), jumped to a commanding 9-0 lead early in the game.
Florida State’s offense relentlessly attacked Virginia starter John Paone, who surrendered four runs and five hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Although the Cavaliers (24-9, 8-7 ACC) managed to get on the board via solo home runs from Kyle Johnson, Antonio Perrotta, and Joe Tiroly, the deficit proved insurmountable. The game drew a crowd of 4,707 spectators, underscoring the high stakes of this top-10 matchup.
Elsewhere in the ACC, the Miami Hurricanes survived a late-game scare to defeat Virginia Tech 8-6 at Alex Rodriguez Park. Miami (24-7, 6-5 ACC) relied heavily on Jake Ogden, who put on a clinic with a double, two triples, and three RBIs. The Hurricanes nearly surrendered the lead in the ninth inning when the Hokies (14-15, 5-9 ACC) rallied for four runs, including a three-run home run by Ethan Ball. Miami reliever Ryan Bilka ultimately closed the door by striking out Sam Grube to preserve the win.
Weekend Scoreboard Summary
Beyond the marquee matchups, several other regional contests provided key results for programs fighting for conference positioning and momentum.
| Winning Team | Losing Team | Final Score | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Miss (8) | Old Dominion | 8-7 | Series victory for USM |
| Florida State (7) | Virginia (10) | 9-3 | FSU leads 9-0 early |
| Miami | Virginia Tech | 8-6 | Miami survives 9th inning |
| Campbell | William &. Mary | 8-6 | Campbell sweeps series |
| Christopher Newport | Salisbury | 2-0 | DIII No. 16 beats No. 9 |
Regional Results and Division III Standouts
In the Northeast Conference, Coppin State managed to avoid a series sweep in Norfolk with a 9-6 victory over Norfolk State. The Eagles (5-21, 5-10) broke the game open in the third inning with a five-run surge, led by Pranav Sundar, who recorded two hits and three RBIs. Nicco Holland earned the win, allowing three runs over five innings, while Walker Fuller took the loss after yielding seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
At Plumeri Park, Campbell continued its dominant run by sweeping a three-game series against William & Mary with an 8-6 win. The Camels (21-10, 14-1) were led by Joey Morton’s three RBIs and a two-run home run from Jonah Oster. Despite a strong effort from the Tribe’s Charlie Iriotakis—who homered, doubled, and drove in two runs—William & Mary could not close a five-run gap.
The Division III ranks also saw a significant shift in the standings. No. 16 Christopher Newport shut out No. 9 Salisbury 2-0 in Maryland. Jackson Baird was the story of the game, pitching seven strong innings. Mitchell Mortensen completed the eight-hit shutout, which notably included zero walks. The Captains’ scoring came via a first-inning RBI single from Gus Croll and a sixth-inning RBI double from Jacob Koenig.
Finally, Virginia Wesleyan split their series against Averett with an 8-4 win in Danville. James Tassone was the standout performer for the Marlins (13-12, 4-6 ODAC), going 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Brandon Drewry earned the victory, giving up two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, while Will Payne secured the save with 2 1/3 scoreless frames.
As the NCAA baseball season enters its critical late-stage phase, these results will heavily influence seedings and regional placements. The resilience shown by Southern Miss and the dominance of Florida State signal that these programs are peaking at the right time.
The Golden Eagles are expected to continue their Sun Belt campaign with a focus on maintaining their top-10 ranking. Updates on their upcoming schedule and conference standings can be found on the official team portal.
Do you think Southern Miss has the depth to maintain a top-10 ranking through the postseason? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
