Hurricanes Win Hattiesburg Regional

Three hundred seven teams play NCAA Division 1 baseball, all with the dream of earning a trip to Omaha to compete in the College World Series.

Entering last weekend’s Regional play, 64 teams were remaining. Today, only 16 teams remain alive. National #1 seed Vanderbilt and #2 seed Texas, along with storied programs like Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma, have been sent packing. The Miami Hurricanes, after winning the Hattiesburg Regional, are among those still living the dream. Eight Super Regionals will be contested in a head-to-head, best-of-three format this weekend.

Simply put, win two games, and you’re on the way to Omaha.

Miami (34-25) will be on the road to take on the Louisville Cardinals (38-21) at Jim Patterson Stadium in Derby City. 

Miami was the #3 seed in the Regional and faced #2 seed Alabama (41-18) in the opener last Friday afternoon.

Homestead’s own Miami shortstop, Jake Ogden, led off the game by working a base on balls. Leftfielder Max Galvin followed with a singled to right that moved Ogden to third. Third baseman Daniel Cuvet was next, and he hit a 1-2 offering over the right-field fence. Three batters in, and the Canes were up 3-0. Miami made it 4-0 in the third when first baseman Renzo Gonzalez followed a Cuvet double with an RBI single up the middle. The Crimson Tide made it 4-3 in the fourth when a hit batsman, two singles, and an RBI double cleared the bases. Galvin led off the Miami fifth with a home run to

right-center that put the Canes up 5-3, and that was the final score.

Miami freshman right-hander AJ Ciscar went 7.0 innings for the win. He allowed six hits and three runs with eight strikeouts. Relievers Carson Fischer, Rob Evans, and Brian Walters shut down Bama the rest of the way, with Walters earning the save.

The #4 seed Columbia Lions upset the #1 seed Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (So Miss) with an 11-4 rout, sending the Lions into the winners' racket

alongside the Canes and sending the hosts to a Saturday afternoon  elimination game against Bama.

So Miss edged Alabama 5-4 in the eliminator, and the Tide were done. In Saturday night's winner's game, the Canes put a whooping on the Lions. Miami scored early and often. Second Baseman Dorian Gonzalez Jr was 3 for 4 with two moonshot home runs to deep right field and eight RBI. Galvin also had a day with three hits, three runs, and 2 RBI. Miami starter Griffin Hugus pitched a complete game for the 14-1 win over Columbia. Hugus struck out 9 in the outing and, as importantly, saved the bullpen for when they might be needed.

On Sunday afternoon, So Miss. faced Columbia in an elimination game and earned a never-in-doubt 8-1 win. Only the undefeated Canes and one-loss Golden Eagles remained standing.

In the Sunday evening contest, So Miss came out swinging in the first and battered Miami up, down, and sideways.

Twelve players came to bat, 9 reached base, and Southern Mississippi had a 9-0 lead before Miami came to bat. In baseball, as in life, it’s 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. Credit head coach JD Arteaga and the leadership of players Ogden, Cuvet, and captain D. Gonzalez. Wise men have said, “You don’t throw good money after bad.”

Miami knew they could lose this game and play another day. They didn’t give up, but they played it smart. Some players were rested, and no pitchers that they would need in Monday’s ‘win or go home’ game were asked to throw in the 17-6 loss.

Miami came out for the Monday afternoon game with seemingly no memory of the Sunday night massacre. Monday brought an intense, pressure-filled contest.

The announced attendance was 5,329, and no one was betting the under. The home crowd was loud and unrelenting, but the Canes did not waver. Games like these, with everything on the line, are ‘next man up,’ especially with pitching staffs. Miami started righty Reese Lumpkin on the bump. The Canes were the visitors and batted first. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the first frame. Miami designated hitter Derek Williams was up with one out in the second and hit a 1-0 pitch 411 feet over the centerfield wall for a 1-0 lead. The hosts tied it in the fourth. A one-out single was followed by a walk and a Matthew Russo RBI single that made it 1-1. It was first and third with one out. Will Smith came on in relief and got out of the jam with a 5-4-3 double play. Miami was at bat in the fifth and worked some two-out Miami Magic.

After two strikeouts, freshman centerfielder Michael Torres singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Ogden doubled to the right-centerfield wall, and Torres scored. Galvin was next, and his single to center brought Ogden home, and Miami was in front 3-1. Smith set So Miss down in order in the fifth. D Gonzalez led off Miami’s sixth with yet another deep bomb to right to make it 4-1.

After a walk to Williams and a single by R Gonzalez, Michael Torres singled to drive Williams home and extend the Cane's lead to 5-1. The Golden Eagles made it 5-2 in the seventh. A hit batter, a ground out that moved the runner over, and an RBI single by catcher Tucker Stockman led to the run. Miami reliever Rob Evans got the last two outs in the seventh. Evans walked the first two So Miss batters in the eighth, and Miami closer Brian Walters was called in to put out the fire. Walt retired the next three batters on a fielder’s choice, a strikeout, and a groundout.

In the bottom of the ninth, Walt was on the mound and had a 5-2 lead. Walt struck out the leadoff hitter on three pitches, walked the next, and when a groundout to short followed, Miami was one out away. It’s never easy for Miami. So. Miss. right fielder Carson Paetow hit Walt’s first pitch over the left field wall, and it was 5-4. Walt retired the next batter on a soft fly to left, and Miami had earned a spot in its 19th Super Regional, their first since 2016.

Cuvet was named Most Outstanding Player in the Regional. Max Galvin and

Griffin Hugus were also named to the All-Tournament team.

Louisville, like Miami, had lost 6 of their last seven games before tournament play, and both came away with Regional Championship trophies. There were no bad teams among the 64 in the regionals, and any of the 16 remaining can win or lose to any other. Miami’s starters, AJ Ciscar and Griffin Hugus, both showed they are ready for prime time. Louisville's pitching allowed only 10 hits and five runs across the three games they played. Win two games and go to Omaha; lose two and go home. Both teams are well aware. Louisville has the advantage of playing at home. Miami has something else.

The Canes know they are better now than they’ve been all season. Coach Arteaga has brought a quiet confidence to the players. I look forward to this weekend with more confidence in this Miami team than I’ve felt all season.

Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 3 PM and will be televised on ESPN2. Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM, and ESPN will provide the national broadcast. The time for Sunday’s “if necessary “ game will be announced at a later date.

That’s it for now, be well all, and Go, Canes!