Chris Sinclair’s leadoff home run in the fifth inning triggered a four-run rally that vaulted Louisiana into the lead and on the way to an 8-4 victory over Southern Miss in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss.

With the win the Ragin’ Cajuns (7-4) avenged a 6-5 loss in game one of the twinbill and picked up a spilt with the Golden Eagles (8-3) on a day that officially kicked off a season-long road trip after back-to-back days of rain washed away games scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Louisiana continues the road trip with midweek games Tuesday at Northwestern State and Wednesday at Southeastern Louisiana before venturing to San Francisco March 11-13 for the Cal Baseball Classic at AT&T Park.

Sinclair’s first home run in a Cajuns uniform knotted the score at 3-all in the top of the fifth inning and ignited the Cajuns’ rally.

Walks to Alex Fuselier and Jordan Poirrier by USM reliever Josh Rogers gave UL a bases loaded situation. After a pitching change, the Cajuns greeted reliever Jackson Posey with back-to-back run producing hits.

Mike Petello hit a high chopper in the infield that third baseman Ashley Graeter couldn’t make a play on allowing Matt Goulas, who singled after Petello’s home run, to score and put UL ahead 4-3. Greg Fontenot followed with a single back up the middle to bring home Fuselier and Poirrier and stretch the lead to 6-3.

Goulas added a solo home run in the sixth inning and Fuselier scored on a passed ball in the seventh inning to cap off the Cajuns scoring.

Fontenot led the Cajuns with two RBI while Petello posted a game-high three base hits. Sinclair and Goulas’ home runs increased the Cajuns total for the doubleheader to three.

Taylor Hubbell picked up the win on the mound for Louisiana. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, scattered five hits and struck out seven while surrendering two earned runs. Joe Zimmermann and Matt Hicks combined for 1 2/3 innings of two-hit relief.

Geoffrey Thomas was charged with the loss for USM , his first of the season which also was the Golden Eagles’ first loss at "The Pete" in 2011.

A two-out walk issued to Poirrier followed by a Petello single to center field gave the Cajuns two baserunners in the top of the first inning. Both would score on a fielding error by USM shortstop B.A. Vollmuth and the Cajuns held a 2-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles scratched for single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to pull ahead 3-2.

A Graeter sacrifice fly put USM on the scoreboard in the second inning. Kameron Brunty scored on a Sinclair passed ball in the third inning to tie the score at 2-all and a fielder’s choice grounder by Travis Creel with runners on the corners in the fourth inning scored Mark Ellis and gave USM the lead temporarily.

BASES NOTED: With the win Louisiana maintained its lead in the all-time series with Southern Miss, upping the advantage to 18-16…UL Is now 8-11 vs. USM in the Tony Robichaux Era…Jordan Poirrier made his 100^th career start…The Cajuns two runs in the first inning marked the third straight game the squad has scored in the first inning…Greg Fontenot, Ryan Leonards and Mike Petello extended their active hitting streaks to three games…Greg Fontenot’s at bat in the fourth inning marked his 500^th career at bat…Louisiana held the opposition below five runs for the ninth time in 11 games this season…Dating back to April 6 of last season at Northwestern State, UL pitching has held the opposition to single digit runs in 43 consecutive games…The home runs by Chris Sinclair and Matt Goulas were their first of the season…Opponents dropped to 0-for-4 in stolen base attempts against Chris Sinclair after USM’s Mark Ellis was caught stealing in the second inning.