BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern Miss finished off its third consecutive sweep of a three-game Conference USA baseball series with a 9-4 win over UAB on Sunday.

Southern Miss (35-12, 19-4 C-USA), which won for the 12th time in its last 13 games, opened up a 3 ½-game lead atop the C-USA standings with its first sweep in Birmingham since 2006.
The Golden Eagles have won 12 consecutive conference series. They’ll host second-place Louisiana Tech next weekend at Pete Taylor Park.

Erick Hoard, making just his third start of the season, sparked a six-run second inning on Sunday with a two-run home run. With one out in the second inning, Hunter Slater walked and Hoard followed with his second homer of the season over the wall in left-center for 2-0 lead.

Cole Donaldson, who finished with three hits, singled and later scored on a fielder’s choice. After Gabe Montenegro walked, Matthew Guidry doubled down the right-field line to plate two runs and give USM a 5-0 lead.

UAB (19-26, 11-13), which had been outscored 12-1 in the first two games, chipped away at the lead, scoring single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings.
But Southern Miss slammed the door with three runs in the ninth inning. Donaldson drove in two of them with a single.

Southern Miss starter Walker Powell (6-2) picked up the win, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Keller Bradford, Adam Jackson, J.C. Keys and Matt Wallner combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking none and striking out three.