Despite a slow start to the season, Southern Miss still had a chance to gain a key series win and move into second place in Conference USA on Sunday.

In the blink of an eye, that opportunity vanished.

Michael Fuda’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning capped Rice’s comeback from an early six-run deficit, and the Owls beat Southern Miss 8-6. Rice won for the second time in three games in the series, and moved into second place in C-USA behind Central Florida.

Southern Miss (16-12, 3-3 C-USA) had taken the lead with five runs in the top of the fourth inning — two of them came in on bases-loaded walks — and an RBI single by Austin Roussel in the fifth, before Rice (21-9, 4-2) began its comeback.

The Owls struck for four runs in the bottom of the fifth, with RBI singles from Christian Stringer and Craig Manuel keying the rally. In the sixth inning, Fuda was hit by a pitch, stole second and went to third on an error, then scored on an infield single by Ford Stainback.

An inning later, Fuda gave Rice the lead without doing so much work. With two on and two out, he lined a shot down the left field line that bent around the foul pole for a three-run homer and an 8-6 lead.

Southern Miss had a chance to retake the lead in the eighth, but left the bases loaded. Closer Tyler Duffey retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his third save of the season for Rice.

East Carolina 6, UAB 5

East Carolina (19-8, 4-2 C-USA) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at 5, then won it in the 13th on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from Ben Fultz.

Former Porters Chapel Academy star Michael Busby scattered six hits and two runs in 72⁄3 innings, but earned a no-decision for UAB (17-12, 2-4). He walked two and struck out two.

John Wooten went 2-for-5 with two RBIs for East Carolina, and Chase McDonald drove in two runs with his game-tying, pinch-hit single in the ninth. For UAB, Ryan Ussery was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and Patrick Palmeiro went 2-for-6 with two RBIs.

Tulane 7, Memphis 3

Brandon Boudreaux’s grand slam highlighted a five-run second inning, and Tulane (19-8, 2-1 C-USA) went on to beat Memphis (12-16, 2-4) in their series finale Sunday.

Garrett Cannizaro was 2-for-5 with a pair of solo homers for Tulane, and former Vicksburg High star Bowen Woodson scored a run and drove in another with a bases-loaded walk. Kyle McKenzie (2-0) pitched 52⁄3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory.

LSU 3, Arkansas 2

Jared Foster delivered an RBI infield single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give LSU its second straight walk-off win over Arkansas, and a series sweep.

Mason Katz had two hits and scored twice for LSU (21-6, 5-3 Southeastern Conference).

Dominic Ficociello and Derrick Bleeker each hit a solo home run for Arkansas (22-5, 5-3), which had only five hits in the game. Ficociello’s homer in the seventh inning tied the score at 2.

Tennessee 4-5, Alabama 2-3

Tennessee got a two-out, two run single by Zach Osborne in the bottom of the sixth inning to post a 5-3 win over Alabama in the series finale on Sunday.

With the win, the Volunteers completed the SEC series sweep of the Tide. Tennessee won the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, 4-2.