Dalton McIntyre hits first Southern Miss baseball home run on day grandfather dies

Southern Miss baseball pitcher/outfielder Dalton McIntyre hadn't had an extra-base hit all season until he slapped a double in the third inning of Friday's 9-4 win at Louisiana Tech.

Then in the next inning, McIntyre hit his first home run as a Golden Eagle. It came the same day his grandfather died.

McIntyre's mother, Stacy, brought light to the homer on an Instagram post on Saturday morning.

"Last night Dalton hit his first home run as an Eagle," the post says. "The story is much more than the HR. My sweet daddy passed away yesterday as well. Last night's game was in honor of Papaw. Angel in the outfield!!! We are going to miss you Papaw!!!"

McIntyre posted on his Instagram story on Friday night saying, "this games was for you Papaw," followed by black heart and dove emojis.

McIntyre batted 3-for-5 as the leadoff hitter Friday night and followed it with four hits and two RBIs in Saturday's 11-3 win.

McIntyre is a 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior for the Golden Eagles (10-5) but spent the last two seasons playing for Meridian Community College.

He's from Jackson, Tennesse, and has rapidly turned into one of Southern Miss' best batters.

McIntyre didn't make his first start until Southern Miss' fourth game of the 2024 season on Feb. 19 against Air Force but has now started in six consecutive games in center field. And he's been on a hot streak at the plate since, now recording multiple hits in five of the past six games. He's also riding a team-long seven-game hitting streak dating back to a pinch-hit RBI single against Nicholls State on Feb. 27.

McIntyre has a team-high .395 batting average and is tied for first on the team with three stolen bases.

Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Southern Miss baseball: Dalton McIntyre homers on day grandfather died