Find a Job

Keywords:

Location:

Home > Sports > Colleges > Southern Miss

Southern Miss  

Bowden back on mound for Southern Miss

He'll pitch against Marshall this weekend

By AL JONES
afjones@sunherald.com

Southern Miss gets a major boost this weekend when starting pitcher Barry Bowden returns to the rotation in a three-game series at Marshall.

Although the Golden Eagles are in good shape for a sixth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance with a solid No. 16 RPI, getting Bowden back to form over the final three weeks will be critical heading into the season-ending Conference USA Tournament at Tulane on May 21-25. USM has won six of its last seven games.

Bowden, a senior right hander, posted a 5-2 record with a 1.80 ERA before being lifted in the East Carolina series last month due to soreness in his throwing shoulder.

"It was his decision to come back at this time," Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer said. "We need his senior leadership and the players want him out there. His velocity might not be there, but his changeup will give him a chance to compete."

Before the injury, Bowden was named the C-USA's Pitcher of the Week on two occasions, including the week after he blanked Rice 1-0 in Houston.

"It's unfair to say if he will be as good as he was," Palmer said. "Before the injury, he was pitching as well as anyone in the country. We have been working him back slowly to build up his stamina. But I don't know if his stamina will let him throw more than 50 or 60 pitches.

"I hope this builds toward the conference tournament and beyond for Barry. It will be a work in progress, but a big lift for us."

Southern Miss, 26-8 since starting the season 6-6, is 32-14 overall and 9-6 in conference play.

Marshall (23-22-1, 9-8-1) is coming off a 9-6 loss to Kentucky.

Josh Billeaud (3-3, 5.12 ERA) will work the opener tonight at 6. Todd McInnis (6-2, 4.58) will get the start on Saturday.

On Sunday, Bowden will take the mound on a limited pitch count.

Southern Miss, hitting .277 as a team with 50 home runs and 688 total bases, has a 7-8 road record after a 12-7 win at Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday.

James Ewing leads the way with a .373 average and nine doubles followed by Brian Dozier at .339 with 14 doubles and Chris Matesich at .331 and five home runs.

The Thundering Herd is hitting .306 as a team with 46 home runs. Nate Lape leads at .393 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs and Victor Gomes at .388 with nine home runs.

All three Thundering Herd weekend pitchers have ERA's over five: Steve Blevins (6-2, 5.09), Dan Straily (3-2, 5.29) and Andrew Blaine (2-4, 5.92).

"They (Marshall) are a good offensive club," Palmer said. "There is no question that I am concerned about the series because they swing the bat so good. We have been hitting the ball better and that makes me feel better knowing we can score some runs,

"These three games are big. We play well at home and after this we go back home for three (Memphis). If we can win the series it will put us in good shape for the stretch run."

Standings School	C-USA	All
Rice	15-3	34-11
Tulane	8-5	30-13
USM	9-6	32-14
Houston	8-7	26-18
E. Carolina	8-7	33-13
Marshall	9-8	23-22
Memphis	4-10	16-28
UCF	5-13	27-19
UAB	4-11	19-24
Weekend Series

USM at Marshall

UAB at E. Carolina

UCF at Tulane

Memphis at Houston

Standings

School	C-USA	All
Rice	15-3	34-11
Tulane	8-5	30-13
USM	9-6	32-14
Houston	8-7	26-18
E. Carolina	8-7	33-13
Marshall	9-8	23-22
Memphis	4-10	16-28
UCF	5-13	27-19
UAB	4-11	19-24
Weekend Series

USM at Marshall

UAB at E. Carolina

UCF at Tulane

Memphis at Houston