RUSTON – A highly anticipated matchup is on deck at the Love Shack this weekend, with the Diamond 'Dogs (8-1) hosting the #12 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7-1) in Ruston for a three-game series. Game 1 is set for Friday, February 27 at 6 p.m. and Game 2 is set for Saturday, February 28 at 4 p.m. CT. The series finale is slated for Sunday, March 1 at 1 p.m. CT.
 
With the 12th-ranked team in the country coming to Ruston, it marks the first time the Bulldogs have hosted a ranked opponent for a three-game series since the 2021 season, when LA Tech played host to #1 Arkansas March 12-14.
 
LA Tech is coming off a midweek win over Northwestern State and improve their winning streak to four games after suffering their first loss of the season to McNeese at home on February 18.
 
Colby Lunsford has been the hot bat for the 'Dogs to start the year, holding a nine-game hitting streak and leading the team with a .455 average, 1.538 OPS, 13 runs scored, six doubles, four homers, 33 total bases, slugging 1.000 and has stolen two bases on as many attempts.
 
The graduate third baseman is among the top six in several of CUSA's offensive rankings, holding the top spot in batting average, doubles, base hits, homers and total bases.
 
The weekend rotation for the 'Dogs has proved to be effective and efficient through the first two weeks of the season. Declan Dahl, Hudson Rowan and Brooks Roberson all hold 2-0 records and combine for three earned runs allowed across 32.1 innings so far. Rowan, a southpaw transfer from Florida State, has tossed 11 innings without allowing a run while scattering four hits and three walks with eight punchouts.
 
The Golden Eagles took two games of a three-game series played between them and Tech in Hattiesburg, Mississippi during the 2025 campaign. The Bulldogs were held to just one hit in a 4-0 loss to open the series before falling in the second game, 8-4. The 'Dogs were able to avoid the sweep in the series finale, taking a 5-2 win in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader.
 
Brooks Roberson made his presence known in his second career appearance out of the bullpen, tossing 5.2 innings of no-hit baseball while allowing just one run on two walks and striking out seven Southern Miss hitters.
 
LA Tech suffered a series loss, 2-1, the last time hosting USM at the Love Shack, but have seen some balance in recent times with six wins in their last 11 contests when playing in Ruston.
 
Previewing the Golden Eagles
Southern Miss enters the weekend as the No. 12 team in the country, per D1Baseball's most recent release of their Top 25 rankings. The Golden Eagles are riding a seven-game winning streak after losing their season opener to UC Santa Barbara at home, 5-1.
 
USM is coming off a 14-4 eight-inning run rule victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide at home, which was lifted by a second-inning grand slam and a seven-run fourth inning, which included a bases-loaded walk, a two-run single and a second grand slam hit by the Eagles.
 
Davis Gillespie and Ben Higdon were the two grand slam hitters from their midweek win over the Tide, with Gillespie batting .367 on the year with four runs, a double, two homers and seven RBI. Seth Smith leads the Golden Eagles with a .750 average in three starts and six games played. Joey Urban has been another consistent piece of USM's lineup, batting .444 with a team-high 10 RBI through the first eight games of the season.
 
The projected weekend rotation for Southern Miss is right-handed pitcher Colby Allen, left-handed pitcher Grayden Harris and right-hander McCarty English. Allen is 0-1 through two starts with an ERA of 2.70. He tossed five innings in the season opener against the Gauchos allowing three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
 
He followed up his loss with five innings against Purdue, allowing one unearned run on five hits, two walks and fanning five Boilermakers. His outing was ruled a no-decision as Purdue tied the score later in the game following Allen's exit.
 
Harris earned a win in his second start against Oregon State, going five innings while allowing two earned runs on six hits, one walk and eight punchouts after allowing four runs through three innings against Santa Barbara.
 
English will make his third start of the season yet has not seen more than three innings in a single outing. He saw three innings against UCSB in the series finale, giving up a run on three hits, two walks and two strikeouts before tossing two frames of no-hit baseball against Baylor. He surrendered just one earned run on four walks with two strikeouts against the Bears.

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