No. 7 Southern Miss Walks Off Ole Miss in Electric Hattiesburg Finish

Golden Eagles capitalize on late hit to defeat in-state rival Rebels 2-1 in front of 5,775 fans at Pete Taylor Park.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:21am

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In a closely contested matchup between the No. 7 Southern Miss Golden Eagles and the Ole Miss Rebels, Southern Miss secured a 2-1 victory with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game featured strong pitching performances on both sides, with Southern Miss combining for 9 strikeouts and allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. Junior catcher Tucker Stockman delivered the game-winning hit to bring home the freshman pinch runner William Tonsmeire and spark a celebration from the Golden Eagles.

Why it matters

This win over an SEC opponent continues Southern Miss' strong early-season stretch, adding to their resume that already includes wins over Alabama and Mississippi State. The large crowd of 5,775 at Pete Taylor Park highlights the excitement surrounding the Golden Eagles' season as they look to solidify their status as a top program in the region.

The details

The game was a pitcher's duel for most of the night, with Ole Miss taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth on a solo home run. Southern Miss quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff home run by senior second baseman Kyle Morrison to tie it at 1-1. The Golden Eagles' pitching staff then shut down the Rebels the rest of the way, setting the stage for the dramatic ninth-inning finish.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The official attendance was listed at 5,775, the fifth-largest crowd in Pete Taylor Park history.

The players

Southern Miss

The No. 7 ranked Golden Eagles, who have now defeated three SEC opponents early in the season.

Ole Miss

The in-state rival Rebels, who were unable to hold on to their 1-0 lead late in the game.

Tucker Stockman

The junior catcher for Southern Miss who delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Kyle Morrison

The senior second baseman for Southern Miss who hit a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

William Tonsmeire

The freshman pinch runner for Southern Miss who scored the winning run on Stockman's hit.

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What’s next

Southern Miss will have a chance to sweep the SEC portion of their regular-season schedule when they face Mississippi State again in Starkville on March 24 and Ole Miss again in Pearl on April 14.

The takeaway

This win over an in-state SEC rival further establishes Southern Miss as a top program in the region, as they continue to prove they can compete with and defeat Power 5 opponents early in the season.