Whether or not an NCAA Regional host was on the line or not, No. 20 Louisiana Tech (37-17) and Southern Miss (36-17) looked and felt like a regional game Thursday night.
USM took the Conference USA tournament winner’s bracket showdown, 4-1, over the Bulldogs at their own ballpark, J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The win gives USM the day off while Louisiana Tech will face Western Kentucky (27-28) at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Tech still holds the season series lead, 5-4, but the ninth meeting between the bitter rivals ran emotions to a fever pitch.