HATTIESBURG — Persistent rain caused plenty of upheaval to the schedule for Southern Miss’ weekend series against Samford, but it hardly dampened the Golden Eagles’ good mood.

Dylan Burdeaux hit a tiebreaking two-run home run in the fourth inning and finished 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored as Southern Miss beat Samford 8-2 Saturday night in the rain-delayed opener of a three-game series.

The opener was postponed by rain Friday night, then moved from an afternoon to evening start because of wet field conditions. Games two and three will be played as a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

Southern Miss (12-3) won for the fifth time in six games and improved to 8-1 at home. It did it with a prolific offense that scored at least eight runs for the sixth time this season.

The Golden Eagles had nine hits in the game, including an RBI double by Nick Dawson in the first inning and a three-run home run by Tim Lynch in the eighth.

USM scored four times in the eighth to blow open what had been a close game up to that point.

Lynch finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Jake Sandlin was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Dawson doubled, walked twice and scored three runs.

Southern Miss starter Cord Cockrell (3-0) pitched seven innings, allowed two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out two.

Heath Quinn hit a two-run home run for Samford (8-6) in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 2.

Grambling at Ole Miss, ppd.

Heavy rain in the Oxford area forced Ole Miss and Grambling to postpone game two of their three-game weekend series on Saturday. The Rebels and Tigers will play a doubleheader Sunday, beginning at noon.