HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Matthew Russo drove in six runs with a double and a home run, leading Southern Mississippi to an 11-0 victory over Georgia Southern in eight innings Saturday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.

The Golden Eagles, who entered the game with a 39-14 record, completed a three-game sweep of the Sun Belt series after winning 10-1 on Friday and 14-3 on Thursday. Southern Mississippi improved to 40-14 overall, while Georgia Southern dropped to 16-40.

Russo, a first baseman, went three for five at the plate. He delivered a two-run double in the first inning and a three-run homer in the eighth. His eighth-inning blast, the 10th of the season, capped a four-run rally that stretched the lead to 11-0 and triggered the 10-run mercy rule, ending the game.

Southern Mississippi jumped on Georgia Southern starting pitching early. In the bottom of the first, Seth Smith led off with a solo home run to right center, his fourth of the season. After a single by Carson Urban and a walk to Kyle Morrison, Russo doubled to left center, driving in both runners. Drey Barrett followed with a two-run homer to left, his seventh, making the score 5-0.

The Golden Eagles added a run in the second inning. Smith reached on a fielding error by shortstop Jordan, stole second, moved to third on a single by Morrison and scored on a groundout by Brady Gillespie.

In the third, Brandon Higdon singled, stole second and scored on a double by Logan Long to push the lead to 7-0.

Southern Mississippi starter Camden Sunstrom pitched five innings, allowing three hits and no earned runs while striking out four. Colby Allen relieved and tossed two scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Josh Och pitched the sixth inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Georgia Southern managed only four hits in the game. The Eagles’ best scoring chance came in the sixth inning when they put a runner on base with one out, but Jonathan Christman fouled out to end the threat. Georgia Southern used four pitchers: starter Mason was lifted after allowing five runs in the first inning. Craig Kalkbrenner worked three and one-third innings, allowing one earned run and striking out two. Will Robbins pitched three innings, allowing one earned run and striking out three. Outfielder McCoy moved from center field to the mound in the eighth inning and gave up four runs, including Russo’s homer.

Southern Mississippi’s offense continued to produce. Kyle Morrison went three for three with two doubles and two walks, scoring three times. Tucker Stockman had two hits in four at-bats. Smith added a single and a stolen base to go with his home run. Long drove in a run with his double. Barrett finished with two RBIs on his homer. Smith, the shortstop, went one for five with his first-inning blast.

Georgia Southern’s only hits came from Christman, White, Myers and McCoy. The Eagles struck out 12 times and left three runners on base.

The game was called after eight innings because of the 10-run mercy rule, standard in Sun Belt conference play. Southern Mississippi outhit Georgia Southern 14-4 and did not commit an error.

Georgia Southern’s defense committed one error that led to an unearned run.

Southern Mississippi won all three games of the series by a combined score of 35-4.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of 7-3 in favor of Southern Mississippi. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Golden Eagles an 80.90 percent probability to win. Southern Mississippi was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 6.5.