Southern Miss, MSU regional games moved to Sunday

Show Caption Hide Caption USM's Berry on what makes these Eagles 'special' Southern Miss coach Scott Berry spoke to reporters after Friday's win over UIC.

Southern Miss and Mississippi State's seasons have been extended by at least one day.

The Golden Eagles and Bulldogs' Hattiesburg regional games scheduled for Saturday at Pete Taylor Park were moved to Sunday because of a record rainfall (more than 1.68 inches, according to the National Weather Service) in the area.

Mississippi State's contest against Illinois-Chicago is set to begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, while Southern Miss' (49-14) meeting with South Alabama is scheduled for 2 p.m. The winner of the MSU-UIC matchup will face the loser of the Golden Eagles and Jaguars' tilt at 6 p.m.

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If MSU (36-25) loses to Illinois-Chicago on Sunday, it goes home. A revised schedule has not been released for the remainder of the tournament.

The Golden Eagles advanced to the winner’s bracket by taking down Illinois-Chicago 8-7 Friday in come-from-behind fashion. South Alabama (40-19), the Sun Belt tournament champs, advanced with a 6-3 win over Mississippi State.

When Southern Miss and South Alabama meet, the Jaguars will be designated as the home team. However, the Golden Eagles will remain in the third base dugout.

Expected to take the pitcher’s mound for Southern Miss is junior right-hander Taylor Braley (6-2, 3.30 earned run average). He will likely be opposed by South Alabama right-hander Tyler Carr (7-1, 4.46).

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Ace Konnor Pilkington is expected to start for MSU against the Flames after Cole Gordon started the opener and lasted only two innings in the Bulldogs’ 6-3 loss to South Alabama Friday night. The Flames own the best fielding percentage in the country, but entered the losers' bracket after committing three errors against Southern Miss on Friday.

Pilkington last pitched on May 24. Andy Cannizaro referred to the start as likely the best one Pilkington has hurled all season. He tossed eight shutout innings and allowed only six hits and two walks against Georgia in the SEC Tournament. He struck out six. Most impressively, Pilkington threw only 100 pitches.

The low pitch count was something new for Pilkington, a power pitcher with 98 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA in 95 innings. Pilkington’s offspeed pitches were effective and he consistently used his secondary stuff to get ahead in counts and induce soft contact as opposed to pitching for a strikeout.

The Flames do a good job of getting on base (.375 on-base percentage as a team), but have hit only 40 homers.

"We are really confident that he is going to come out and throw strikes," Cannizaro said. "He is going to throw his fastball over the plate. His breaking ball and changeup have got better as the season has progressed. He is our best starting pitcher and we expect him to come out tomorrow and pitch a very mature game ... and kind of put us on his back and extend our season."

The day off during the tournament is a good thing for MSU's depleted pitching staff. Gordon, Peyton Plumlee, Spencer Price, Trey Jolly and Trysten Barlow all appeared in Friday's game and could conceivably pitch again in the regional.