USM opens up Conference USA Tournament play today at 4 p.m.
Published 8:28 am Wednesday, May 25, 2016
- COURTESY PHOTO/Southern Miss Athletics Southern Miss pitcher Clay Tageant prepares to throw a pitch during a game earlier this season. Tageant has a 0.93 earned run average for USM. The Golden Eagles open Conference USA Tournament play today at 4 p.m.
The University of Southern Mississippi opens the Conference USA tournament today, as teams attempt to get an automatic bid into the regionals at Pete Taylor Park on the campus of USM.
The Golden Eagles enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed, after posting a 36-18 overall record. The team was 20-10 in Conference USA play.
Southern Mississippi begins play this afternoon at 4 p.m. against sixth-seeded Old Dominion (32-22, 15-15).
USM and Old Dominion did not play each other during the regular season.
The tournament’s top-seeded team is Florida Atlantic (37-15, 21-8).
USM pitcher Clay Tageant has seen limited action this year, but has produced when he’s been called upon.
The 2011 Franklinton High School graduate has appeared in 12 games, all out of the bullpen. He has not been involved in a decision, but has a microscopic 0.93 ERA. The senior has allowed just one run over 9-2/3 innings pitched. He has given up six hits with 10 strikeouts and eight walks. Opponents are hitting just .182 against him.
The winning team will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow while the losing team plays at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. USM’s next game will be against either seventh-seeded Florida International (28-27, 15-15) or No. 2 seed Marshall (32-19, 21-9).
