HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss’ fast-paced search for an opponent was successful. So was the game itself.

Nick Sandlin threw seven scoreless innings and Southern Miss registered a season high for both runs and hits in a 16-2 victory over Tennessee-Martin Friday at Pete Taylor Park.

The Golden Eagles (4-1) were supposed to travel to Nacogdoches, Texas, this weekend, but rainy weather canceled a multiple-team tournament there and forced them to make alternate plans. The coaching staff was able to line up a three-game series with the Skyhawks (0-5) late Thursday afternoon. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.

The start of Friday’s game was delayed three hours due to rain.

When it finally got under way, Sandlin limited the Skyhawks to three hits over seven innings, with a career-best 14 strikeouts and no walks in only his second career start. Sandlin (2-0) has now fanned 23 and surrendered no walks in 14 innings of work this season.

“He was dominating,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “Nick threw everything for strikes. He attacked the zone. I think there were only four baserunners. Fourteen strikeouts, seven innings, 86 pitches. I mean, that’s a pretty good outing.”

Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles’ offense pounded out a season-best 17 hits including three each from Gabe Montenegro, Luke Reynolds and Hunter Slater. Matthew Guidry had two hits.

Guidry and Daniel Keating each collected leadoff homers, while Reynolds added two doubles and Slater his own two-base hit.

Reynolds is now hitting .632 (12-for-19) with seven extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in the Golden Eagles’ first five games of the season.

Southern Miss started with four runs in the first inning on just two hits while chasing Tennessee-Martin starter Dalton Westfall (0-2) after six batters. He allowed four runs on one hit and three walks, and hit one batter.

UT Martin scored its lone runs on a two-run homer in the eighth by Carson Shrode, his first of the year.

The Golden Eagles scored in six of eight innings, culminating with a five-run eighth. Reynolds capped the scoring with a three-run double.

Ole Miss 2, Tulane 1, susp.

Ole Miss and Tulane played into the fifth inning before rain swamped Swayze Field on Friday night, forcing the suspension of their series opener. The game will resume Saturday at noon. The day’s regularly-scheduled game will be played about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

All the scoring took place in the first inning. Tulane’s Matt Rowland hit a solo home run, but Ole Miss answered in the home half with a pair of runs to take the 2-1 lead.

The Rebels got two runners on before an errant throw from the catcher on a throwdown allowed Ryan Olenek to score. Thomas Dillard then drove in Nick Fortes with a groundout.

Ole Miss pitcher Ryan Rolison had nine strikeouts in five innings of work. He allowed three hits and walked two.