B.A. Vollmuth homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and Southern Mississippi took advantage of Georgia Tech's worst defensive game of the season to beat the Yellow Jackets 10-7 on Saturday night.
Southern Miss (37-23) has won nine of its last 11 under coach Corky Palmer, who announced in April that he's retiring after the season.
The Eagles are playing in their seventh straight NCAA regional. This is the first year they've won their first two regional games.
"I've been in two previous regionals," Vollmuth said. "This year it feels like we have something special working for us."
Special? Not yet, Palmer said.
"It'll only be special if we can win one more game," Palmer said.
The Eagles can advance to the NCAA Super Regional with a victory on Sunday night against the winner of Sunday's elimination game between Georgia Tech and Elon.
Georgia Tech (36-18-1) committed a season-high five errors, including three by second baseman Connor Winn, that led to six unearned runs.
"Definitely not our best effort," said Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall, who pulled Winn following the sixth inning.
"He just has to pick his head up," Hall said of Winn. "I've watched the guy for nine months and he's a great defensive infielder. He just didn't have a good night. It can happen to anybody. I'm sad it happened to him."
Luke Murton hit a three-run homer in Georgia Tech's four-run ninth. Thanks to the five errors, the Yellow Jackets trailed 10-3 before the inning.
"We know we've got to play better," Murton said.
J.R. Ballinger (6-3) gave up seven hits and five runs, four earned, with five walks in 8 1-3 innings.
Palmer had his bullpen working and appeared to be on the verge of pulling Ballinger in Georgia Tech's two-run second inning. The Yellow Jackets still had the bases loaded with two outs, but Ballinger struck out Derek Dietrich and ended the inning with a groundout by Chris House.
"That was huge; those were two big outs he got," Palmer said.
Winn had fielding and throwing errors in the Eagles' three-run third. He added a fielding miscue that set up a four-run fifth inning that gave Southern Miss the lead.
"Georgia Tech made some mistakes ... but we had to get some big hits after they made the mistakes," Palmer said.
Tech starting pitcher Brandon Cumpton (4-3) gave up six hits and eight runs, only two earned, in 4 2-3 innings.
Southern Miss, backed by a large traveling fan base, committed no errors and turned double plays to end the fifth and sixth innings.
Tony Plagman drove in two runs for Tech.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/5/220767