HATTIESBURG, Miss. — In an electrifying matchup, Miami emerged victorious in the Hattiesburg Regional, securing a 5-4 win against Southern Mississippi on Monday night.
This triumph propels the Hurricanes to the Louisville Super Regional, a best-of-three contest with a chance to clinch a coveted spot in the College World Series. The Louisville Cardinals are their next challenge after coming off their own victory at the Nashville Regional, hosted by top-ranked Vanderbilt.
Southern Mississippi’s journey in this regional featured highs and lows. After falling to Columbia 11-4 in their opening game, Southern Mississippi bounced back with an impressive 8-1 rematch victory. On Sunday night, they pushed Miami to the brink, delivering a resounding 17-6 win that forced the decisive showdown.
Miami, boasting a season record of 34-25, showcased potent offensive performance, with a total of nine hits strategically placed throughout the game. Derek Williams marked the scoreboard early with a solo home run in the opening inning. In the fifth inning, a crucial two-out single by Michael Torres set the stage for Jake Ogden’s RBI double, followed by a single from Max Galvin that extended their lead to 3-1.
Dorian Gonzalez Jr. further solidified Miami’s lead with a home run to kick off the sixth inning, and Torres added another two-out single, bringing the score to a commanding 5-1 advantage.
Southern Mississippi, showing resilience, managed to respond. Matthew Russo tied the game briefly in the fourth with a run-scoring single, while Tucker Stockman added another run in the seventh. In the dramatic ninth inning, Carson Paetow belted a two-run, two-out homer which brought them close, but Miami’s Brian Walters secured the victory with his 10th save. Will Smith picked up the win after delivering three solid innings in the middle of the game, maintaining his flawless personal record at 3-0.
Matthew Adams, despite enduring three runs over 4 2/3 innings, exhibited a valiant effort for Southern Mississippi, striking out nine batters. Reliever Landen Payne put up a resilient defense in the final innings, conceding just one hit while striking out five.