SAN MARCOS, Texas – The middle innings proved to be costly for Texas State on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark in Southern Miss' 12-1 win in seven innings. All of the visitor's runs came in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

With the result, the Bobcats are now 16-18 overall and 6-8 in the Sun Belt Conference while USM is 24-11 on the season and 10-4 in league play.

Claiming the win on the mound was Grayden Harris (4-2). The lefty went five innings and struck out five while giving up one run on four walks and three hits. Jesus Tovar (1-3) took the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits in four innings.

Both Bryson Dudley and Cameron O'Banan struck out two in relief with O'Banan tossing a scoreless frame.

Picking up a hit at the plate for the Bobcats was Chase Mora, Samson Pugh, Alan Shibley and Cole Tabor. Shibley drove in a run and Tabor had a pinch-hit double.

Mora started the bottom of the first with a single back up the middle on a 3-2 offering. After Ryne Farber drew a walk, a double play moved Mora to third base. He would come home on an infield single off the bat of Shibley.

Back-to-back walks to Austin Eaton and Rashawn Galloway loaded the bases. However, a strikeout ended TXST's chances of adding to its total and possibly knocking Harris out of the game.

Tovar would hold USM scoreless for the first 3.1 innings and run his shutout streak to 21.2 frames. The Golden Eagles' bats came alive and put up five runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and six in the sixth. Eight of their runs came courtesy of three long balls.

Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a 11 a.m. first pitch.

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