Southern Miss scored seven runs in the seventh inning to rally to a 9-7 win over Alcorn State Thursday at Pete Taylor Park in the opener of a three-game series.

The Golden Eagles improved to 17-12 on the season, while the Braves fell to 7-23.

Freshman Mason Robbins led the Golden Eagles with three hits and a pair of runs batted in, while Isaac Rodriguez added two hits and Ashley Graeter tallied a a hit and two RBIs. Angel Rosa led the Braves with four hits and four RBIs.

After tying the score at 2-2 in the sixth, the Braves rallied for five runs in the seventh with Rosa delivering the big blow, a three-run shot to left-centerfield, for his third of the year.

The Golden Eagles sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame.

Rodriguez drove in the first run with a double, before Robbins scored on a wild pitch. Connor Barron drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk. An error allowed two more runs to score.

Kameron Brunty put the Golden Eagles ahead for good with a sacrifice fly, before Robbins knocked in the final run with a single to right.

Both Alcorn State starter Steve Easter and USM starter Boomer Scarborough did battle over six innings, but neither figured into the decision.

Easter limited the Golden Eagles to two runs on seven hits. Scarborough allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Matt Warren (1-0), the fourth of five Golden Eagle pitchers, notched the victory with the final two outs in the seventh.

LSU 7, Florida 6

Second baseman JaCoby Jones and designated hitter Alex Edward drove in a pair of runs apiece and Nick Goody preserved a one-run lead in the ninth inning to lift seventh-ranked LSU to a win over top-ranked Florida at McKethan Stadium.

Sophomore right-hander Kurt McCune (2-3) earned Thursday’s win by working five innings and limiting the Gators to two earned runs on seven hits.

“A great win for our team in which we got contributions from everyone,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We continue to find a way to win the close games, which are so common in our league. I thought we competed extremely hard, and Kurt McCune gave us exactly what we needed on the mound. We played with a lot of confidence and we need to keep building on this momentum.”