Recap: 2026 Round Rock Classic - Game 1 - Purdue vs Southern Miss

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Southern Mississippi kicked off the 2026 Round Rock Classic with a 5-4 win over the Purdue Boilermakers. The Golden Eagles tallied their fourth consecutive win, moving to 4-1, after 3B Drey Barrett’s walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth.

The Boilermakers wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first. LF Eli Anderson led off with a two-strike base hit then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and an error from Southern Miss C Tucker Stockman. Purdue freshman SS Westin Boyle later drove Anderson in with an infield single for an early 1-0 advantage.

Purdue junior RHP Cole Van Assen held the Golden Eagles scoreless with a trio of strikeouts through the first 3.0 innings. Southern Miss stole the lead in the bottom half of the fourth with four runs on four hits. Junior C Tucker Stockman kicked off the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center, and SS Seth Smith followed with a RBI double down the third base line. DH Caleb Stelly then got aboard with a single, bringing an end to Van Assen’s day. After the Boilermakers turned to reliever RHP Thomas Howard, the Golden Eagles plated two more runs via a CF Joey Urban sacrifice fly and a 1B Matthew Russo RBI double. Southern Miss led 4-1 after four complete.

Southern Miss RHP Colby Allen threw 5.0 innings, allowing one unearned run with five hits, f ive strikeouts and two walks.

The Boilermakers loaded the bases with nobody out in the top half of the sixth. After replacing LHP Kros Sivley, RHP Josh Och retired three consecutive batters, stranding the Purdue baserunners.

RF Trey Swiderski belted his first home run as a Boilermaker with a solo shot to kick off the top half of the eighth. Purdue then loaded the bases, setting up Boyle’s third hit of the game, allowing two runners to score and tie the game at four apiece.

Entering the ninth, Purdue’s relievers allowed just one hit that came in the bottom of the fourth off of Howard. Southern Miss LF Davis Gillespie led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on RF Ben Higdon’s sacrifice bunt. 3B Drey Barrett delivered the gamewinner with a double on the first pitch of the at-bat. Gillespie came around to score, giving the Golden Eagles a 5-4 victory in game one of the 2026 Round Rock Classic.

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