HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Late runs proved to be the difference Saturday afternoon as Texas State (25-14, 9-8 Sun Belt) fell to 22nd-ranked Southern Miss (26-13, 10-7 Sun Belt) by a score of 6-3 at Pete Taylor Park.
 
Cade Smith (3-1) made his first start as a Bobcat and went six innings with two strikeouts but allowed three runs on nine hits to take the loss. Camden Sunstrom (3-3) struck out six in six innings while surrendering two runs on four hits and three walks to pick up the win. Earning his second save of the season was Kros Sivley after retiring the final batter of the game.
 
At the plate, Jackson Cotton went 2-for-4 with two RBI and hit his 12th home run of the season. Manny Salas was the only other TXST batter to have an extra-base hit as he recorded a double. Also finishing with a base knock was Ethan Farris, Rashawn Galloway and Dawson Park. Reaching base four times was Jaquae Stewart, who drew three walks and was hit by a pitch.
 
The Golden Eagles would strike first with a run their first time at the dish on an infield single.
 
With one out in the second, Farris singled to left center. Cotton followed with a 419-foot blast to centerfield to put Texas State in front 2-1. It was short-lived as USM tied the game in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single.
 
The Bobcats had a chance to tie or retake the lead in the third when they loaded the bases with two outs. However, a ground out was induced to end the frame without TXST adding to its run total.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the hosts would retake the lead on an RBI ground out. The score stayed the same until the eighth when the Golden Eagles scored thrice on two homers to go up 6-2.
 
Bennett Fryman drew a one out walk and was able to advance all the way to third on defensive indifferences. After Stewart was issued a free pass, a wild pitch allowed Fryman to score to make it a three-run contest. Galloway worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate in Salas. However, the junior would go down swinging to end the game.
 
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
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