GREENVILLE — Marc Bourgeois’ grand slam in the fifth highlighted a five-run fifth inning and Jonathan Thompson tossed a complete-game shutout as No. 15 Southern Miss (32-10, 11-3) blanked No. 29 East Carolina (27-16, 8-9) 5-0 Saturday afternoon Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium to claim the Conference USA series.

With one out in the fifth in a scoreless game, Bourgeois’ grand slam to left field off of Kevin Brandt highlighted a five-run frame putting Southern Miss up 5-0. Kameron Brunty singled with one out, Tyler Koelling followed with a double and B.A. Vollmuth drew and intentional walk setting up Bourgeois seventh home run of the season. Isaac Rodriguez kept the inning going with a double to left center and came around to score on Adam Doleac’s single down the left field line to cap the scoring in the contest at 5-0.

Thompson improved to 6-0 on the season with his shutout performance scatting five hits over the course of the game where he allowed four walks, struck out three and retired the side in order six times.

Brandt (5-2) suffered his second-straight loss in league play after being touched for all five runs (all earned) on eight hits with four walks and a strikeout in 4.1 innings. Zach Woods made his first appearance in two weeks tossing 2.2 scoreless innings of relief allowing three hits. Joseph Hughes and Austin Chrismon also had a scoreless outing in an inning of work.

Mike Ussery led the Pirates with two hits on the day, while Jack Reinheimer, Corey Thompson and John Wooten each added singles. Thompson, who sat out the last two games, extended his hit streak to eight games in the seventh with a single through the left side.

ECU will look to salvage a game in the series when the two teams meet back on the diamond Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (EDT). Senior Seth Maness will take the mound for the Pirates, while the Golden Eagles will send Todd McInnis to the hill.

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