Jason Munz/Hattiesburg American
Player of the game?
Take your pick: Matthew Guidry. Hayden Roberts. Nick Sandlin. LeeMarcus Boyd. Mason Irby. Tracy Hadley.
Southern Miss needed each and every one — and then some — to pull out an 8-7 victory over Illinois-Chicago in the opening game of the Hattiesburg regional Friday at Pete Taylor Park. The win puts the Golden Eagles (49-14) in the winner’s bracket after day one. They will face the winner of Friday’s Mississippi State-South Alabama game at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Guidry gave Southern Miss a momentum swing it desperately needed in the bottom of the fifth.