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Southern Miss

Scott Berry sums up what hosting Super Regional means to his program

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•06/11/23•

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Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Scott Berry is a legend at Southern Miss. Now, the 60-year-old head coach is hoping to go out on top.

During Game 2 of the Hattiesburg Super Regional on Sunday, Berry talked about his message to his team in the midst of a Tennessee comeback. It was the answer only a veteran could give.

“Just stay in the middle of the rain,” Berry said during the bottom of the fourth inning. “Tennessee, hats off to them. They punched back that last inning and answered our four spots. So we got to keep it where it is right now. Let our offense get back involved again.”

The four spots Berry is referring to is the 4-0 lead Southern Miss took in the bottom of the third inning. Fueled by Christopher Sargent’s three-run homer, the Golden Eagles looked comfortable with a lead. Unfortunately for Berry, that comfort wouldn’t last long.

Tennessee struck back with a vengeance, scoring six runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead. The six-run streak was capitalized by a 479-foot shot by Tennessee’s Blake Burke. Tennessee didn’t stop there, either.

The Volunteers scored another two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure an 8-4 lead. Yet, Berry isn’t panicking yet. In his 14th year as head coach at Southern Miss, Berry has seen it all. The program’s legend is just enjoying the moment at the Golden Eagles’ home field.

“It’s just a lot of hard work,” Berry said. “As the season goes along, to be able to host an event like this doesn’t happen often. Obviously, only eight teams out of the country are host sites for the Super Regionals. So, it means everything to me and this program, our community, state of Mississippi, and our university.”

While Berry pointed to all his surrounding factors, the Southern Miss players point to Berry. After Southern Miss’ Game 1 win over Tennessee, pitcher Billy Oldham gave his coach praise.

“We’re doing it for coach,” Oldham said. “Coach Berry’s such a great man. He’s a great coach and we’redoing it for him. It’s his last ride and we want to make it the best we can.”

No matter what, Sunday’s contest won’t be the Golden Eagles’ last game of the season. However, it could be the last of the Super Regionals series. Down 8-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Southern Miss will have four more innings to mount a comeback and extend Berry’s career.