The Student Printz April 11, 2016

Volume 100 Issue 49

Monday, April 11, 2016

‘It’s over.’

www.studentprintz.com

NCAA imposes violations on Southern Miss Julius Kizzee Sports Editor

The NCAA handed down its “penalties and corrective actions” on Southern Miss after a nearly two-year investigation stemming from former coach Donnie Tyndall’s tenure on April 8.

“Today is a good day because it is behind us,” said athletic director Bill McGillis. “We needed to get this decision behind us to really, truly [move in a positive direction.]”

The violations given to Southern Miss include show-cause orders for the former staff members, forced the school to vacate wins and a reduction in basketball scholarships, among other things.

“I respect the decision of the committee,” McGillis said. “I think it was a positive outcome for us given the circumstances.”

For Sadler, it has been an arduous tenure in his Golden Eagle career. Sadler currently holds a 17-41 overall record, going 9-27 in conference play. Though he has dealt with untimely injuries and recruiting limitations in his short stay in the Hub City, he sees this day as a start to focusing on bigger goals.

“It’s over,” Sadler said. “But it’s not changing what we do from day-to-day.”

When Tyndall left Southern Miss, McGillis did not hesitate to self-impose two postseason bans on the team from 2014-2015.

McGillis has also worked with Sadler to give him the resources he has needed to make his stay a successful one despite the consequences of the investigation.

“I think [Sadler] has shown great leadership throughout his time here,” McGillis said. “[He’s] kept pushing us forward despite the circumstances and the adversity. I want our people to realize that. I want him and our players to know how much I appreciate them and the way that they’ve handled a very, very challenging situation over the past two years.”

The investigation stems from Tyndall’s two seasons at the helm

4

Doc Sadler, left, and Bill McGillis, right, address the media after NCAA hands down sactions on April 8.

at Southern Miss from 2012-2014, which he left to take the head coaching job in Tennessee.

“I don’t think people truly realize the adversity that they’ve had to endure for nearly two years,” McGillis said.

“They’ve suffered a lot, but they have persevered.”

According to an NCAA press release, Tyndall “acted unethically and failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance when he directed his staff to engage in academic misconduct, according to a decision issued by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.”

According to the NCAA, Tyndall “also facilitated cash and prepaid credit card payments to two prospects from former coaches.”

Also, “in order to disrupt the investigation, the former head

NEWS

SCIENCE Expert discusses atomic world

coach instructed a staff member to fabricate a document purportedly showing that the university approved the payments from the student-athletes’ former coaches.”

I don’t think people truly realize the adversity that they’ve had to endure for nearly two years. They’ve suffered a lot, but they have persevered.

Bill McGillis, Athletic Director

According to CBS Sports, Tyndall is planning to appeal the NCAA violations handed down to him, which include a 10-year

6

show-cause order until April 7, 2026. The show-cause order will prevent him from fulfilling any NCAA coaching duties until the period is over ten years from now.

Tyndall’s harsh consequence is only joined by former Baylor head basketball coach Dave Bliss, who covered up a murder investigation of Carlton Dotson, a player convicted of murdering another player, Patrick Dennehy, in 2003.

Bliss subsequently resigned on Aug. 8, 2003.

The parallel between murder and academic fraud is maligned, but Tyndall is mentioned in the report as directing “members of his staff to complete fraudulent coursework for seven prospects so they could be immediately eligible to compete.”

Most importantly for Sadler,

ENTERTAINMENT

IDOL FINALE Mississippians face off in final episode of long-running series.

7

Julius Kizzee/Sports Editor

Southern Miss may participate in postseason play if it is eligible.

With a favorable record in year three of Sadler’s tenure, he will be able to participate in the C-USA, NIT or even the NCAA tournament.

“They want to participate in postseason play, and they’re going to be able to do that now,” Sadler said. “From this point on, it’s on us and what happens in March.

That’s what you want, you want it on your shoulders.”

With the news on April 8, Sadler expects no further penalties to halt his team’s progress and can now focus on basketball and recruiting.

“I don’t think we’ll have any tougher times than what we’ve had,” Sadler said. “They understand that at the end of the day now. It’s what we do.”

SPORTS

BASEBALL USM continues offensive dominance against MTSU.

INFORMATION

Page 2 | Monday, April 11, 2016

MEET THE STAFF SPRING 2016 Ardan Thornhill

Julius Kizzee

ardan.thornhill@eagles.usm.edu

julius.kizzee@eagles.usm.edu

Jack Hammett

Hunt Mercier

jesse.hammett@eagles.usm.edu

patrick.mercier@eagles.usm.edu

Executive Editor

Sports Editor

Managing Editor

Joshua D Starr

Photo Editor

Cam Bonelli

News Editor

Assistant Photo Editor

sprintznews@gmail.com

catherine.bonelli@eagles.usm.edu

Nan Beauti

Jules Peralta

afnan.beauti@eagles.usm.edu

jules.peralta@eagles.usm.edu

Jonathan Urbina

Chuck Cook

jonathan.urbina@eagles.usm.edu

chuck.cook@usm.edu

Aubrey Sanders

Lesley Sanders-Wood

aubrey.sanders@eagles.usm.edu

lesley.sanders@usm.edu

Copy Editor

Web Editor

Entertainment Editor

Design Editor

Jhaimee Bullock

Printz Adviser

Advertising Manager

Katherine Frye

Assistant Designer

Advertising Designer

jhaimee.bullock@eagles.usm.edu

katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu

Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu

EDITORIAL POLICY The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

DIRTY BIRDS Thursday, March 7 • Two separate cases involving people leaving the scene of an accident took place on the USM campus. The first one occurred around 3 p.m. on Ray Guy Way. The second occurred at the Theatre and Dance parking lot around 7 p.m. Both cases were closed in a timely manner.

• Kick-off day parties of spring 2016 resulted in a few cop calls.

Around 3:45 p.m., UPD nabbed a student in the Kappa Sigma fraternity parking lot for possession of drug paraphernelia.

They referred the perpetrator to the dean of students. Around midnight, UPD responded to reports of public disturbances at the Delta Tau Delta house.

POLICE REPORT INFORMATION

OPINIONS Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

When reporting, the following information should be provided: • Nature of the crime or emergency • Name, address and phone number of the caller • Location of incident • Description of the scene and suspects • Description of any vehicles involved, especially license plate numbers

CONTACT US

@studentprintz

The Student Printz

@studentprintz

studentprintz.com

NEWS

GREEK LIFE

Monday, April 11, 2016 | Page 3

Games, festival support local camp Elizabeth Lee Printz Reporter

Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will host its 19th annual Charity Bowl at The Rock to benefit the Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp on April 15 at 5 p.m..

According to the Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp website, high school students volunteer at the camp every year to work with children and adults with disabilities, and the campers receive companionship and acceptance in return.

Charity Bowl, a football game that involves members of the entire Greek Life community, is held each spring to raise money for the summer camp for adults and children with disabilities.

Fraternities will participate in a bidding session to be the team that plays against SAE, then both teams will draft players from any chapter to build their team. This year, the opposing team will be Sigma Chi fraternity.

Following the Charity Bowl, SAE will also host the Civijam Festival on the intramural fields, where Southern Miss students and Civitan campers can enjoy the

GREEK LIFE

SAE Facebook 2015/Courtesy Photo

festivities together on April 16 from noon to 4 p.m.

Civijam will include live music, homemade jambalaya and snow cones for sale and the crowning of Miss Civitan 2016.

Attendees can play games, try their luck at a dunking booth and pie an SAE member.

The festival’s live music lineup

will include Haley Line, Billy Mauldin and Cameron Cloud with Jackson Bounds, all students at Southern Miss.

Senior marketing major Blake Coco organized the week’s events and has served as the fraternity’s philanthropy chair for the past three years.

“In the past, we only held our

Charity Bowl annually,” Coco said.

“But in recent years we decided to bring the camp atmosphere to Southern Miss and throw a Civijam festival for the campers, which gives our members a chance to spend time with them and understand more about our cause.”

Coco said the event would not be possible without the support of the

chapter and the local community.

Senior therapeutic recreation major Rhea Phillips Valentine, a member of the Chi Omega sorority, has volunteered at Civitan Camp for the past eight years.

“There’s nothing like watching a child with disabilities break out of his or her shell by getting the chance to accomplish goals and feel like the most important person on the planet,” Valentine said. “Over the past few years, I have had the chance to attend Civijam and see the difference it makes by fundraising for Civitan Camp. I could not be more thankful for the support that SAE gives us, and I can’t wait to attend Civijam again this year.”

In addition to the events on Friday and Saturday, SAE will host a profit-share at Raising Cane’s April 11.

Members are also selling t-shirts and inviting sororities to participate in a spirit link competition, the winner of which will nominate a member to be crowned Miss Civijam.

For more information on Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp, visit the camp’s website at abbierogerscivitancamp.org.

Fraternities, students come together in 2016 spring parties

Joseph Frierson/Printz Kappa Sigma poses in group photo.

Joseph Frierson/Printz Megan Bohte and Chanel Toppino enjoy crawfish served in abundance at the Pi Kappa Phi house.

Joseph Frierson/Printz Sigma Alpha Epsilon senior Shelby Beech reacts to being named Paddy Murphy.

NEWS

Page 4 | Monday, April 11, 2016

ON CAMPUS

Author, journalist to conclude Forum lecture series Nicolas Kubicki Printz Reporter

The 2016 University Forum series will conclude at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday in Bennett Auditorium.

The forum will feature journalist Barbara Ehrenreich, author of “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America and Living With a Wild God.” Ehrenreich pursued a degree in chemistry and earned a doctorate in cellular immunology from Rockefeller University.

However, after completing her graduate studies, she ended her career in science as her focus shifted.

According to her website, Ehrenreich went through a personal and political change after the birth of her daughter in 1970.

“I got involved with what we then called the ‘women’s health movement,’” Ehrenreich said.

She began advocating for better healthcare for women and access to better information than what was available at the time.

“I have never seen a conflict between journalism and activism,” she said. “As a journalist, I search for the truth.

But as a moral person, I am also obliged to do something about it.”

Her writing has appeared in various national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Time, Mother Jones and Harper’s Weekly. Though she mostly freelanced, she wrote book-length projects, which often focused on social and economic injustice.

Courtesy Photo

In 2000, she received the Sidney Hillman Award for journalism for the article that

would eventually become a chapter in the book “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America,” which detailed her experiment living on minimum wage while taking the cheapest lodgings possible. She worked as a waitress, hotel maid and a Wal-Mart salesperson across three states.

Ehrenreich served as an adjunct associate professor at New York University from 1979 to 1981, during which she shared the National Magazine Award for excellence in reporting with her colleagues at Mother Jones for “The Corporate Crime of the Century,” about a process called “dumping.”

According to the story, after the U.S. government forces a drug off the domestic market, the manufacturer can then sell

the product to the rest of the world, often with the help of the state department.

She currently serves as an honorary co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, serves on the Board of Directors for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and has served on the editorial board of Mother Jones.

After finishing “Nickel and Dimed,” Ehrenreich was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led to her writing the award-winning article “Welcome to Cancerland,” published in Harper’s Magazine. She wrote about what she called the “breast cancer cult.”

The article inspired the 2011 documentary “Pink Ribbons, Inc.”

ON CAMPUS

World-renowned physicist discusses fabric of the universe Garrett Minta Printz Reporter

Courtesy Photo

Author and theoretical physicist James Gates spoke in Bennett Auditorium on April 7 in a lecture about particle physics and supersymmetry titled, “Will the precision hunters be the first to spot SUSY’s footprints?”

The Physics Department hosted the lecture in a series named in honor of former USM College of Science and Technology associate dean Grayson Rayborn and his wife Jane, who recently made a donation to the USM foundation. The funds donated will allow the university to host more lectures in the series.

“Actually, this particular event is one of the biggest ways and so when the Rayborns approached us about

doing a donation that would help students and help the community, this was the thing that we talked about,” said Chair of the Physics Department Chris Winstead.

“Being able to bring these kinds of lectures [...] and let the public and primarily our students — USM students — get to interact with and hear from these nationally famous guys.”

The lecture was the first in the series of lectures that Winstead hopes to bring to USM. No future guests lecturers have been named, though Winstead said some are being considered.

Gates’ primary research has been on supersymmetry and how the universe has a uniformity and a symmetrical tendency, referencing the periodic table as once having

holes in it.

“Supersymmetry predicts a partner particle for each particle in the Standard Model to help explain why particles have mass,” according to CERN, the European particle physics laboratory.

Gates described string theory, its basic concepts and basic quantum mechanics while discussing the intricacies of protons, neutrons and electrons.

Protons and neutrons, as he explained, are made up of quarks. These quarks, too, are held together by other particles, but these particles cannot be seen by any equipment available to scientists today.

One such particle that holds these protons and neutrons together is called the Higgs boson.

Renovations

CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS!

1, 2 & 4 Bed Options!

105 Doleac Drive | Hattiesburg, MS 39401 | 601.268.3343

EagleFlatts.com

According to University of Edinburgh’s website, the Higgs boson is named for Peter Higgs, who is professor emeritus at the University of Edinburgh. He theorized that such a particle existed as it had its place in the equations, and whose existence was confirmed through CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.

Gates described the importance of such a small particle.

“Without the Higgs Boson, electrons and protons would have no weight,” he said. “You don’t exist.”

According to CERN’s site, this earned Peter Higgs and his associate François Englert the Nobel Prize in physics. This particle fit the prediction of a particle that is essential because it gives other particles their mass. This leads to other theories beyond what is called the Standard Model, such as supersymmetry.

Gates likens the idea of supersymmetry to that of Dmitri Mendeleev, the presumed creator of the Periodic Table of Elements, who left spaces on table open to be filled by elements as they were discovered. Gates said supersymmetry similarly leaves room for other particles to be discovered.

Gates has been studying supersymmetry for many years, writing the first thesis on the topic at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. Gates said the process he and others continue take in continuing their work on frontier of discovery in supersymmetry may be arduous, but it will pay off for future generations.

“Events like this allow me the chance to do what I call, ‘pay it forward’,” Gates said. “I had great teachers, great people who inspired me. So when I get a chance to do this, I think it is right and proper and it’s an obligation I have to try to show some of the beauty and wonder in what we do so that there’s going to be a next generation.”

FEATURE

LOCAL

Monday, April 11, 2016 | Page 5

Novel of Mississippi author to become feature film Jennifer Robinson Printz Reporter

Elliott Chaze touched the lives of many during his lifetime, both at the national stage and in Hattiesburg and at USM. Readers first took note of Chaze when he started writing for the American Press before he turned to write his novel, “Black Wings Has My Angel,” which still has cult following.

According to IMDb, a film based on “Black Wings has My Angel” is currently in production.

“Originally published in 1953

by Gold Medal Books — known for their original crime fiction paperbacks with memorably lurid covers — Chaze’s novel has been reprinted by New York Review Books Classics, allowing a new generation of readers to discover this underappreciated hard-boiled masterpiece,” NPR Books said.

Chaze mentored young writers for The Student Printz at USM

from 1972 to 1975. One writer he mentored, Larry Jones, now runs a fan page dedicated to Elliott Chaze.

“I was getting my masters and worked with Elliott every day,” Jones said. “He was a really great guy and talked as he wrote. He used very vivid language. There were occasions when he spoke that it was like listening to a poet.

He was a gruff old guy, but a great gentleman. I worked with him for a year. Other students got to work with him as well. I’ve done a lot of writing in my career but at the time, I was just an editor.”

Jones said Elliot taught him a lot about grammar and spelling.

“He taught me to use shorter, more powerful words,” Jones said. “Earnest Hemmingway loved Chaze’s first book. He was in a great crowd of literary writers, but he didn’t publish a lot. More people today should know who he is.”

The American Press gave a short biography of his life and said Chaze’s first job as a writer

Courtesy Photo

was with the American Press from 1939 to 1942. He served as a paratrooper in World War II and as an editor and reporter for the Hattiesburg American.

During his time at the Hattiesburg American in the 1970s, Chaze worked alongside Brenda Trigg.

Trigg described Chaze as witty, sarcastic, irreverent, nonhypocritical, blunt, sometimes volatile, entertaining and as a great story teller.

“His writing was entertaining,” she said. “It was easy. He was not pedantic or stiff. When you read something Elliot wrote, you didn’t want it to end. He could say so much with so few words. He was a great observer of human nature.”

Trigg said she cherishes the notes he would give her on her writing. She said they included words of wisdom, encouragement and witticisms.

“I remember a note that read, ‘Did you hear about the virgin pine that wood knot do it?’” Trigg said “He loved to play with words.

When Bob Dylan and the Rolling Thunder Revue played at Reed Green Coliseum, I reviewed the concert. He wrote me a note [that said] something about my review: ‘You could have done a better job but no one else could have.’ What

a compliment.”

Trigg said Chaze had a softer side, she recalls he demonstrated during the Hattiesburg American’s coverage of ‘the first day of school.’ Her teary-eyed nephew was among the images captured by the publication’s photographer.

“The photo of my nephew was precious, but he [had] a big tear rolling down his cheek. Elliott used one of another kid staring off in space,” she said. “I questioned why he chose the one he did, and he said something to the effect of, ‘This little guy had a bad day.

I don’t want to make it worse by putting a picture of him crying on the front page.’

She said in that moment she was struck by the realization that he was not the heartless, crusty, hardened editor so many thought him to be.

“He could be scary with his anger but then incredibly sensitive,” she said.

LOCAL

Student develops food drive to support families Emerald Alexis Ware Printz Reporter

Starting a platform designed to give back to the community is not something many 20-year-olds do every day, but Miss Mississippi hopeful and sophomore music major Mia Hall did just that.

In December, Hall developed Hidden Hunger, which provides food to hungry families in Hattiesburg. The issue of hunger was not something that Hall always considered.

“Based on the statistics there were people that I had to be friends with that were facing hunger and I don’t think that’s okay — not for America,” Hall said. “The number in America is one in five children in America live in food insecure homes and in Mississippi the number is one in four.”

After the death of her uncle, who was heavily involved in the organization BackPack Buddies, Hall decided to donate her own time to that cause. She started at Crosspoint Community Church in Hattiesburg and soon fell in

love with all of the children which fueled her desire to work with the organization.

BackPack Buddies is an organization that donates individually packaged nonperishable food to children from food-insecure homes. Children from these homes do not know whether they will have food at home over the weekend. The organization ensures that these students have meals while they are away from schools.

Hall takes the food that does not meet the BackPack Buddies guidelines to local food pantries.

“I named my program Hidden Hunger because it is kind of a hidden hunger it’s not something you hear about all the time,” Hall said. “You here about hungry children in third world countries but you don’t hear about them in Hattiesburg.”

Hall said that she wanted to the title to let people know that hunger is an issue and felt that the direct title would grab corporate attention. She hopes the name raises awareness of the issue and calls people to donate money in addition to food.

“I need money because the food

donations are wonderful, but right now the volunteers that do BackPack Buddies are not only volunteering their time to feed these students but they’re also volunteering their own money to buy the food to feed these children and that gets really hard,” Hall said.

Last month, she held a food drive that raised 2,000 pounds of food. Hall found the food drive to be successful and believed that the people of Hattiesburg and Mississippi willingly donate to hungry children.

Mississippi artist Greg Cartnell heard about the work Hall was doing and donated a painting worth more than $3,000 and Cooper French donated a painting worth more than $1,000. Hall set up a $5 raffle for the painting that will run until May 12.

Hall hopes to start more chapters at other churches so they can cover different schools in the Pine Belt area. She will continue this platform as she competes for the Miss Mississippi pageant this year.

For more information on the raffle, visit gofundme.com/ hiddenhunger.

HATTIESBURG’S

PREMIER STUDENT LIVING COMMUNITY Get more out of off-campus living with Boardwalk at Dewberry Landing! All-inclusive rent, a private shuttle service to campus, and a fitness center are just a few of the many reasons to make Boardwalk at Dewberry Landing your home for Fall 2016!

ALL NEW

LEASE ONLINE! VISIT

BOARDWALKUSM.NET

888.310.7591 22 CAMPBELL SCENIC DR. HATTIESBURG, MS 39401

Courtesy Photo of Mia Hall

Page 6 | Monday, April 11, 2016

NATIONAL

ENTERTAINMENT

American Idol ends with Miss. showdown Hiba Tahir Printz Reporter

On April 7, Mississippians Trent Harmon and La’Porsha Renae competed for the “American Idol” crown in a twohour series finale that featured nostalgic performances and celebrated the series’ 15-season run.

The final showdown included a surprise appearance by the original panel of judges: Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul.

Season one winner Kelly Clarkson, who could not make the show because of her late stages of pregnancy, prerecorded a medley of some of her biggest hits.

Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and many other popular judges, winners and contestants made appearances throughout the night and sang several medleys.

Both the judges and audience reacted with surprise when the results were announced.

Harmon, a 25-year-old Armory, MS native, was crowned the final winner. Renae, with her strong vocals and constant lauding from the judges, was the runner-up and had been a fan favorite until the end.

A farm boy and waiter at

his family restaurant, Harmon had to train himself to not make faces when he sang and suffered with mononucleosis during Hollywood Week, so no one was more shocked than Harmon himself by the results, as he fell to the stage floor after host Ryan Seacrest called his name.

American Idol just gave regular old normal people like me and like Trent a chance.

La’Porsha Renae, American Idol Contestant

“I haven’t been able to breathe in almost a year,” Harmon said to USA Today. “I feel that in that moment, I got to decompress for the first time in almost a year.”

Scott Borchetta, American Idol mentor and Big Machine Records President, announced that he would be making a record deal with Renae as well, who he will sign to Big Machine Records/Motown as the first artist on the label.

Renae, who told Billboard reporters, “[I] kind of in a

sense won for myself already,” talked about the sort of artist she hopes to be.

“The kind of artist I would like to be is definitely versatile,” she said. “I don’t like being boxed in or put into a genre. I just write what I feel, so I can’t specifically say. I just want to be an artist of truth, and an artist that stays true to herself.”

Renae was sad to see American Idol end and reminisced on its many positive attributes in a Billboard interview.

“American Idol just gave regular old normal people like me and like Trent a chance,” she said. “I mean, [Trent and I are] both from Mississippi.

We didn’t know what we were doing when we got here. We didn’t know anything about this kind of life, and American Idol was definitely that platform, so I really am gonna miss it. It was the Cinderella story, from rags to riches.”

In his final sign-off, Seacrest said, “One more time – this is so tough – we say to you, from Hollywood, goodnight America … for now.”

Seacrest’s words caused much confusion and speculation and were clarified by Simon Fuller, American Idol creator.

“There will no doubt be another format or refinement

Courtesy Photo of La’Porsha Renae

or elevation of the format,” Fuller said to Billboard. “Now I can actually revamp it and come up with a new version.

And we can look back on fifteen seasons and think of some legitimate ways to allow people to enjoy them again, maybe adding another dimension to it.”

Fuller has some new ideas for the future.

“My head is exploding with opportunities,” he said. “The next generation of ‘Idol’ — and ‘Idol’ will certainly be coming back for sure — will have a youthful glow and it will be pioneering again, just as it was when we first began.”

SPORTS TRACK AND FIELD Golden Eagles secure sweep USM records solid results at Tiger Track Classic against Middle Tennessee Thursday, April 7, 2016 | Page 7

BASEBALL

Deantae Smith Printz Reporter

Nick Dawson hits a pitch against Middle Tennessee State on April 8.

Julius Kizzee Sports Editor

Southern Miss (25-8, 11-1) completed its third straight series sweep on Sunday, beating Middle Tennessee State (14-18, 2-10) in Conference USA play.

“We stayed the course and found a way to win,” said coach Scott Berry. “The magic comes when you do things well and you earn it and you keep playing the game hard.”

The series went according to plan, despite constant comeback efforts from MTSU. Specifically, USM gave up 19 hits in the last contest but held on to win both the contest and the series.

“We’re just looking for one run at a time out there,” said junior outfielder Dylan Burdeaux.

“Our offense, we never think we’re out of a game.”

In the first game, Southern Miss started off up 5-1 on the back of a strong pitching performance by Cord Cockrell and an efficient offense.

Cockrell pitched six innings, giving up two runs on six hits in his sixth straight win of the season.

“The sign of a good pitcher is when you don’t have your best stuff and you’re still able to go out there and win,” Berry said. “That defines him right there tonight.”

MTSU would later climb back into the game with one run in the sixth inning and two more in the ninth. Berry saw the Golden Eagles lead chipping away and brought in Nick Sandlin to stop the proverbial bleeding. He earned his fourth save of the season to open up the series.

The Golden Eagles came out with hot bats to start the second game of the series. Led by Jake Sandlin’s four-hit performance at the plate, the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 6-1 lead by the bottom of the fourth. But, USM allowed MTSU to chip into the lead.

In the fifth inning, the Blue

Raiders smacked off three runs on only three hits. The Golden Eagles had a cushion with six runs of their own, but the lead was dwindling down by the batter.

“We played the game, we didn’t play the opponent,” Berry said. “We just have to continue to play well and play together.”

USM outlasted the Blue Raider comeback, 9-5, but not before having to use four pitchers in the effort. Walker Powell was awarded the win after pitching 2.2 innings of work, but pitching woes in the second contest would continue to be the narrative heading into the final contest.

This game proved more of the same for USM as it held a 5-2 lead heading into the fourth inning. The Golden Eagles had already given up nine hits and already had three. It was only a matter of time before the deficit would catch up to them in the fifth inning.

With the score tied at 5 at the top of the fifth inning, MTSU rallied off five runs, including an inside-the-park grand slam to extend its lead to 9-5. Berry motivated his team to keep focusing on one swing at a time and not the scoreboard.

“Keep trying to grind it through and pump people up,” Berry said. “If you lose focus of what you’re doing, you’ll be out of the game real quick.”

With two outs and a fourrun deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning, Chuckie Robinson singled to first base to start a three-run rally to cut the MTSU deficit to a manageable 9-8 with plenty of baseball to go.

MTSU ended up going up 11-9 by the ninth inning, but the dramatics would not stop there. Southern Miss headed into the ninth inning down 11-9 with the momentum on the Blue Raiders side. MTSU ended up walking the next four batters to bring home Michael Gilbert to walk in and score to put it at 11-10.

The next batter, Burdeaux,

Julius Kizzee/Sports Editor

would single to left field to bring in Claudio Rubiera to tie the game at 11. To end the game, MTSU pitcher Caleb Smith would throw a wild pitch to end the contest with Storme Cooper advancing to home plate.

“I’ll take an ugly win over a pretty loss,” Berry said.

“It was a mentally taxing game physically in our third game. We’re trying to not be complacent.”

Southern Miss will travel to Oxford to play in-state rival Ole Miss on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

The Golden Eagles track and field team traveled to Auburn over the weekend to compete in the Tiger Track Classic. The women’s team had nine top 10 finishes, while the men’s team had six finish in the top 10.

Freshman Kadaria Thompson finished ninth in the 200 meter with a 24.24 time. Thompson also finished 29th in the 100m, while fellow teammate Tracie Nelson placed 39th.

In the 400m event, Mariam Kromah finished second with a time of 52.56 ahead of fellow runner Kai Selvon, who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Trinidad and Tobago.

“Kromah was impressive today,” said coach Jon Stuart.

“She anchored both relay teams and bettered our own school record in the 400m.”

Modesty Lorick continued the women’s good showing with a 10th place finish in the 400m hurdles, while Alondra Hoyos finished seventh in the 5000m event.

The women’s 4x100 relay finished second, the team made up of Adriana Allen, Lorick, Thompson and Kromah,

look to be in good shape as the Conference USA Outdoor Championships approach. The 4x400 team finished eighth, behind the likes of Clemson, Middle Tennessee State and Vanderbilt.

The men’s team also had bright spots as well over the weekend.

All C-USA sprinter Elbert Rogers finished second in the 400m, while Lorenzen Burton finished 10th in the event.

The men’s 4x400 relay team finished third, behind Clemson and Indiana. The team consisting of Rogers, Curtis Walker, Cameron Cox and Burton finished ahead of host Auburn by a 10th of a second.

Emron Gibbs finished second in the javelin throw, ahead of Southern Miss alum Ethan Rich. Thomas Peters finished seventh in the event.

Next for the Southern Miss track and field squads is the Southern Miss Invitational on April 15 and 16. The Southern Miss Invitational will be the only home meet of the season.

The meet will be held at Marshall Bell Track Complex with the first event on Friday scheduled for 3 p.m. The rest of the events will be held Saturday starting at 12:10 p.m.

SPORTS Hadley’s effort could replace Braley’s production Page 8 | Monday, April 11, 2016

BASEBALL

Julius Kizzee Sports Editor

With the news that Taylor Braley would be undergoing knee surgery that would effectively end his season, some thought third base would be a spot of trouble for Southern Miss. But coach Scott Berry put a relative unknown in Braley’s spot on the field, and fans can expect a slight drop-off from talent but not effort.

“He hasn’t really seen much action at night here,” Berry said. “They’re are a couple of plays he’ll learn from, but he’s a good ballplayer.

He’ll contribute.”

A junior standout at Pearl River Community College, Tracy Hadley came to Southern Miss expecting to put his athleticism on center stage immediately.

But with the season that Braley had been having, there was just no room for Hadley to get on the field.

Now, with Braley’s hiatus due to a torn meniscus, Hadley has been thrusted into the lineup.

“That’s a hard spot to fill,” Hadley said. “You can’t look at it like you have to do what [Braley] does, but stay in your

identity and try the best you can to produce for the team.”

Against Ole Miss in relief of Braley, Hadley did not record a hit in the game, but got on base due to two walks. With those walks, Hadley could showcase one thing about his game that is an improvement over Braley — his speed.

Hadley also may not have half the power that Braley had in his bat or the potency of his swing, but Hadley does have the legs to take off whenever a ball is in play.

Immediately, he would be the fastest to get on base with his speedy legs standing at six feet and weighing 183 pounds.

He’s taking all of his opportunities to get on the field in stride, as evidenced by his sole hit in the opening game against Middle Tennessee this past weekend. Although he only got on base once, he knows exactly what his role is.

“Whatever I need to do to help the team win, that’s what I’m going to do,” Hadley said.

“You have to be humble.”

Hadley did not start in the final two games of the series, but looks to regain a spot in the starting lineup as the season progresses with Braley on the mend.

His defensive play will not always show up on the stat sheet, and according to Berry, it is the little things that make Hadley stand out.

“It’s not always making the great plays, it’s not always getting the hit,” Hadley said. “It’s the things that you do in between because those don’t show up too often. You wil have that opportunity [and] it’s all those other things and consistent things [that] show up every day.”

Whatever I need to do to help the team win, that’s what I’m going to do.

Julius Kizzee/Sports Editor Tracy Hadley onlooks the batter from third base.

Don’t take the summer off...

Take it on!

NEW REDUCED PRICING NO FRIDAY CLASSES ONLINE COURSES AVAILABLE

Tracy Hadley, third baseman

“I always wanted to win,” Hadley said. “Every aspect of the game, you can improve on.”

The Golden Eagle rotation could use a player like Hadley.

UNO ranks nationally among the universities where students graduate with the least debt.

Graduate on time and get ahead!

summer.uno.edu

MAY 31