Rain Expected as Golden Eagles Host Lions in Hattiesburg

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles look to continue their strong start to the season when they host the North Alabama Lions in a nonconference baseball game Saturday at Pete Taylor Park.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon, though forecasts call for rain and a temperature of 83 degrees.

Southern Mississippi (11-2) enters having won 10 of its last 12 games, including a recent road series sweep at Louisiana Tech. The Golden Eagles fell 3-2 to Nicholls State on Wednesday despite eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings from reliever Thomas Crabtree. Crabtree, a key arm out of the bullpen, has 13 strikeouts over his last 6 1/3 innings.

North Alabama (7-6) seeks to rebound after a 5-8 loss at Mississippi on Wednesday and a defeat in Friday’s series opener against Southern Mississippi. The Lions have shown power, scoring 15 runs in a win over Murray State on Feb. 18, but consistency has been an issue.

A player to watch for the Lions is reliever Jake Boynar. Over his last three appearances, Boynar has been dominant in two outings, throwing five combined hitless innings with nine strikeouts against Mississippi and Samford. However, he allowed four earned runs while recording just one out against Murray State on Feb. 18.

Southern Mississippi’s pitching staff, which has allowed three or fewer runs in eight games this season, will test a North Alabama lineup that was shut out twice in late February.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Southern Mississippi 7, North Alabama 5.

The teams are scheduled to conclude the series Sunday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.