HATTIESBURG, MS -- Tulane pounded out 17 hits, including a combined seven by second baseman Brad Emaus and right fielder Warren McFadden, as the Green Wave defeated the University of Southern Mississippi 7-5 on Friday night.

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Tulane relief pitcher Daniel Latham picked up his ninth save of the season.

But it was a costly Conference USA series-opening victory.

Emaus and McFadden both rolled ankles in the game and their status for the rest of the weekend will be game-time decisions each day.

Tulane (26-10, 7-3) fell behind 1-0 after the first inning, but scored runs in six of the next seven innings, including a two-run fifth. Green Wave starter Sean Morgan (7-2) struck out five while allowing three runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings. Daniel Lathem closed the game in the eighth to thwart a two-on, no-out rally to pick up his ninth save of the year.

Emaus led all players by going 4-for-4 with an RBI triple, and McFadden was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.

With Tulane leading 7-4 after seven and a half innings, Golden Eagles' right fielder Michael Ewing sparked a rally in the seventh with a leadoff triple and centerfielder Jody Blount walked to put runners at the corners and bring Latham from the bullpen.

Latham induced a fly ball off the bat of Luke Atkins for a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to two, but pitched his way around a two-out single to thwart the rally and tossed a perfect ninth to close the door on Southern Miss (21-14, 3-7).

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)