HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Mississippi scored six runs early and held on for a 7-3 win over North Alabama in the Lions' second game of the season at Pete Taylor Park.

The Golden Eagles scored one run in the first inning and added three in the second inning and two in the third for a 6-0 lead.

North Alabama got on the board in the top of the fourth when Drew Hudson reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a Luke Harper RBI-double. Austin Thrasher then reached on an error and Harper scored on the play to cut the USM lead to 6-2.

UNA got a run closer in the top of the seventh when Thrasher got a leadoff single and scored on a Reid Homan RBI-single, making it 6-3.

Southern Miss., got an insurance run in the seventh to push its advantage to 7-3.

UNA threatened in the top of the ninth as Thrasher was hit-by-pitch and Dominick McIntyre walked with just one out. Jonathan Lane reached on a fielder's choice but McIntyre was out at second. USM reliever Tanner Hall then struckout Homan to end the threat.   

The loss leaves UNA at 0-2 entering the final game of the series against Southern Miss., on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

The Lions were out-hit 10-6 in the loss, with Lane leading the team in his for the second game in a row with two.

UNA starter Jacob Bradshaw (0-10 took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout over 2.1 innings. Brycen Parish turned in a strong performance in relief, allowing just one run on three hits over five and two-thirds innings. He walked one and struckout four.