Final Stats

BILOXI, Miss. - A three-run Southern Miss home run in the second inning was too much to overcome as Louisiana Tech dropped an elimination game in the Conference USA Tournament to Southern Miss, 5-2 on Thursday afternoon at MGM Park in Biloxi.

Like he has done in so many games this season, Raphael Gladu was the leading hitter for the Bulldogs, collecting three hits in the loss. Gladu was one of just two Bulldogs who registered multiple hits in the game, as he was joined by Cody Daigle who also picked up two hits.

Southern Miss raced out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, thanks to a three-run home run in the top of the second innings.

Cody Daigle put Louisiana Tech on the board in the bottom of the third inning, with a solo home run to left center. That solo home run cut the Louisiana Tech deficit to 4-1.

An inning later, Marshall Boggs did the same, launching a solo home run to left field which inched LA Tech a little closer at 4-2.

The 'Dogs continued to chip away, combined with some outstanding relief efforts by Kyle Griffen and Casey Sullivan.

Kyle Griffen tossed four scoreless innings, and allowed just three hits while also picked up a couple of strikeouts. Casey Sullivan tossed 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit, while also striking out two Golden Eagles.

That would be all of the scoring though, until Southern Miss tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth.

The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the ninth, even getting the tying run to the plate, but couldn't get the timely hit to extend the game into extra innings.

Louisiana Tech, who entered the weekend on the bubble for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, will now await their postseason fate after being eliminated from the Conference USA Tournament.