By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG – Southern Miss knocked off in-state rival Ole Mis Tuesday night 7-4.

And former Vancleave High standout Carson Paetow was a big reason why. 

Perhaps still celebrating after his Bulldogs earned a trip to the Class 5A state championship over the weekend, Paetow collected three hits and drove in three runs including a key two-run single in the sixth as the Golden Eagles rallied to defeat the Rebels Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.

The Golden Eagles (35-17) increased their season-best winning streak to eight games, while snapping a five-game losing streak to the Rebels (27-25) in the process.

Trailing first 4-0 then 4-1, the Golden Eagles used a pair of three run innings to tie the game and then take the lead for good.

In the fifth, Ozzie Pratt and Slade Wilks collected back-to-back one-out singles – increasing their hitting streaks to 10 and 25, respectively. Wilks’ streak now ranks as tied for the fifth longest in school history with Kameron Brunty (2009).

After a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with two outs, Paetow hit a high hopper up the middle away from the shift to the left-handed hitter. The Ole Miss shortstop fielded the ball but not in time to retire Paetow which allowed the run to score. Nick Monistere  then drove home the other two runs as he laced one down the third-base line to tie the score at 4-4.

An inning later, the Golden Eagles had their first two batters retired before Dalton McIntyre walked. Pratt then doubled to left center and McIntyre scored all the way from first base on the play. Paetow then followed with another single up the middle, this time scoring the final two runs of the contest.

After Kros Sivley and Landon Payne each pitched a frame for the home squad, J.B. Middleton tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just a walk to go along with a career-high tying five strikeouts to keep the Rebels off the board. 

Ben Riley Flowers followed with two innings of not allowing a run on a hit with two strikeouts to earn the victory and improve to 1-1. Josh Och and Colby Allen then followed with a scoreless frame. Allen earned his fourth save of the year as he did fan one batter.

Rebel reliever Cole Tolbert gave up three runs on a hit and a walk over a third of an inning to suffer the loss and fall to 0-1.

Ole Miss had jumped out to an early lead with four runs over the first two innings.

Andrew Fischer blasted a two-run home run to right for his 20th of the year in the first off Sivley, and then added two more in the second, taking advantage of a Southern Miss error. An RBI single from Luke Hill accounted for the first run and a groundout by Jackson Ross ended the scoring for the visitors.  

The Golden Eagles return to action as they play their final Sun Belt Conference series at home starting Thursday at 6 p.m., versus Texas State. The Golden Eagles will have their annual Senior Day prior to their 1 p.m. Saturday contest.