Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008
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USM has plenty on line against Memphis
Strong finish could land regional tournament
By AL JONES
afjones@sunherald.com
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If history is any indication, Southern Miss might have its back against the wall when Memphis slides into Pete Taylor Park for a Conference USA weekend series.
On the outside, the three games between the Golden Eagles (34-15 overall, 11-7 C-USA) and Tigers (16-32, 4-13) might look like a mismatch, but don't tell that to senior pitcher Barry Bowden.
Bowden, who returned to the mound last week at Marshall after missing a month with a strain muscle in his right shoulder, knows there's too much on the line even if the Tigers are lagging in the conference standings.
Why is Bowden concerned about a club with a 0-9 conference record on the road this season?
Memphis swept Southern Miss 7-1, 7-5 and 8-5 last season, won two out of three at Pete Taylor Park in 2006 and eliminated the Golden Eagles in the 2006 C-USA Tournament at Rice.
"I guess you could say there's a little bad blood," Bowden said. "They have had the upper hand, not the better team, on us series-wise. There's more incentive knowing I came out of the series last year with a loss."
A sweep against the Tigers and a sweep next week at Alabama-Birmingham, could earn the Golden Eagles a regional bid at home for the first time since 2003 and the school's third 40-win regular season.
That, according to Bowden, is enough motivation by itself considering the Golden Eagles have a No. 13 RPI, according to Boyd's World, and can't afford a loss to the Tigers, who come in with a 175 RPI.
"You try not to think about it because it will add pressure," Bowden said. "But we have the chance to host if we do well the next couple of weeks. Then, we hope things come our way."
Bowden will work Sunday while Todd McInnis will go today and Josh Billeaud on Saturday.
After Memphis, the Golden Eagles play at South Alabama (38-20, No. 85 RPI) before closing out the regular season at Alabama-Birmingham (20-29, No. 186 RPI) next week.
That means a loss, especially at home, could cost the Golden Eagles a shot at hosting a regional.
"It (a loss) will hurt bad," Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer said. "If we lose at home, that would be tough on the RPI. I told the players that there's no room for error at this point."
"I've said all alone that we need to be second in the league and be in the top 20 in RPI to host. I don't know if they (selection committee) will give the league three hosts. I hope they surprise me."
Entering the weekend, Rice sits in first at 15-3 followed by Tulane at 10-6 with Southern Miss, East Carolina and Houston knotted at 11-7.
The Green Wave travel to East Carolina this weekend and Houston plays at Rice.
"If we have a good weekend, we will put ourself in a good position for a regional," Palmer said. "We still have seven games left. That means we have a lot of work left to do. We all know you can't count your eggs before they are hatched.
"Numbers say we are a better team than Memphis. But if you look at our numbers, they say we shouldn't be 34-15 either. I do know we will be ready to play and there will not be a let down. It's senior weekend, there will be no let down."
Al Jones can be reached at 896-2351 or at afjones@sunherald.com
