HATTIESBURG , Miss. – Senior Easton Brenner recorded his seventh hit and fifth RBI of the series, as the Lafayette baseball team dropped its series finale against Southern Miss, 5-1, on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first as Nick Monistere hit an RBI-single to center field to give Southern Miss a 1-0 lead. In the second, the Golden Eagles added to their lead, driving in three more runs on a RBI-single by Joey Urban and an RBI-single by Ben Higdon to take a 4-0 lead.

Lafayette fought back in the seventh. With two outs in the inning, freshman Alex Barrist drew a walk and then Brenner, continuing his hot start to the season, ripped an RBI-double to center field, cutting the Southern Miss lead to 4-1. Brenner finished the opening weekend batting at a .700 clip. 

In the bottom of the frame, the Golden Eagles added an insurance run as Dray Barrett drew a walk with the bases loaded, extending the Southern Miss advantage to 5-1, which held on to be the final score.

Grayden Harris earned the win, allowing just two hits over 5.0 innings of work and striking out two. Junior Trace Florio took the loss, throwing 4.2 innings, giving up four runs, nine hits and recording two strikeouts.

The Leopards are next in action on Friday, when they travel to Western Kentucky for a three-game series.