Southern Miss Clinches Epic Series Win vs. UC Santa Barbara

Golden Eagles battle back from adversity to secure victory in rubber match

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Despite facing adversity throughout the weekend, including a loss in the first game and being down by four runs in the second game, the No. 20 Southern Miss Golden Eagles battled back to secure a series win against a high-quality opponent UC Santa Barbara with a 6-5 walk-off victory in Sunday's rubber match.

Why it matters

The series between Southern Miss and UC Santa Barbara was expected to be one of the best opening weekend matchups in college baseball, and it certainly lived up to the hype, with the Golden Eagles proving their resilience and ability to overcome challenges against a talented opponent.

The details

In the bottom of the ninth inning with the game tied 5-5, Southern Miss sophomore third baseman Drey Barrett hit a solo home run to give the Golden Eagles a 5-4 lead. However, UC Santa Barbara tied the game in the top of the ninth after a dropped fly ball by Southern Miss sophomore shortstop Ty Long. In the bottom of the ninth, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases, and senior first baseman Matthew Russo drew a walk-off walk to secure the series win.

  • On Friday, Southern Miss lost the first game of the series.
  • On Saturday, Southern Miss was down by four runs before battling back.
  • On Sunday, the series-clinching game was decided in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The players

Christian Ostrander

The head coach of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team.

Drey Barrett

The sophomore third baseman for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles who hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Ty Long

The sophomore shortstop for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles who dropped a fly ball that allowed UC Santa Barbara to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning.

Camden Clark

The sophomore right-handed pitcher who was the closer for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on back-to-back nights.

Matthew Russo

The senior first baseman for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles who drew the walk-off walk to win the game.

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What they’re saying

“That's a really good team. I think that offense is gonna do good things for that team, especially with that pitching staff. ... They made it hard. Every pitch this weekend made it feel like you couldn't make a mistake. So, hats off to them. They do a great job. First-class program, and I wish them all the best.”

— Christian Ostrander, Southern Miss head coach (si.com)

“The common person would probably deflate, because he's running on adrenaline. I said, 'this out is important, you've gotta stay within yourself, you can't control what happened.' That punch-out he got there to end that inning and keep that runner at third was huge. He showed a lot of poise. That really impressed me, but I'm not surprised.”

— Christian Ostrander, Southern Miss head coach (si.com)

“We had confidence in him. That's why we put him in there. I said it all along, I was hoping I wouldn't have to throw any freshmen to the wolves, but that was a tough moment, and he answered it. ... That's a moment that's just gonna catapult his career in my opinion. I think he's got the makings to be special, and he did a great job.”

— Christian Ostrander, Southern Miss head coach (si.com)

What’s next

Southern Miss will travel to Hammond, Louisiana, to take on Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night at 6 p.m., with the game being televised on ESPN+.

The takeaway

This series between Southern Miss and UC Santa Barbara showcased the resilience and determination of the Golden Eagles, who were able to overcome early adversity and secure a thrilling series victory against a high-quality opponent. The record-breaking attendance at Pete Taylor Park also underscores the passionate fan base and electric atmosphere that surrounds Southern Miss baseball.