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Feeling Super: Miami Hurricanes take down Golden Eagles

Miami Hurricanes Golden Eagles

Photo | Canes Baseball


Miami, Florida – The Miami Hurricanes held off the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 5-4, clinching their first regional title since 2016. A day after getting pummeled 17-6, UM overcame both a hostile crowd in Hattiesburg and starter Matthew Adams pitching on three days’ rest. This time, however, Miami showed why resilience is one of its greatest strengths, punching its ticket to the super regionals at Louisville. The Hurricanes countered with quality pitching, stout defense, and timely hitting despite Adams’ 80-pitch effort. He had thrown 75 against Columbia. Starter Reese Lumpkin fulfilled his assignment, lasting three and a third innings, holding the Golden Eagles to a run on three hits.

The bats got off to a rocky start, going down in order on their first trip to the plate; however, Derek Williams put the team up 1-0 in the second inning with a home run to center field. Southern Miss tied it in the fourth. Jake Cook was retired, but Ozzie Pratt singled, and Nick Monistere drew a walk. With two on, Matthew Russo managed an RBI single, prompting coach J.D. Arteaga to call on reliever Will Smith, who got out of the inning thanks to a terrific double play. Smith struck out four in three solid innings of work, holding the hosts to a run and a hit.

Miami regained the lead via RBI singles from Jake Ogden and Max Galvin, making it 3-1, knocking out Adams. Dorian Gonzalez Jr. crushed a no-doubter to right field during the sixth, leading to another pitching change. Up 4-1, Michael Torres extended the advantage with an RBI hit. Despite the lead, the Golden Eagles did not go away quietly. Tucker Stockman knocked in Joey Urban in the seventh, chipping away at the deficit. After Southern Miss drew two consecutive walks to start the eighth, Brian Walters was brought in. With two on and nobody out, UM’s closer retired the next three hitters, stranding runners at the corners.

Things got interesting in the ninth. With two outs, Carson Paetow went deep to left-center, bringing the home team to within a run. Walters maintained his composure, helping to clinch the Hattiesburg regional as Seth Smith harmlessly popped out to left field.

Impressions

I am so proud of these guys. They have exceeded expectations and then some. This team appeared dead in the water heading into April. The Hurricanes turned it around, and just when it seemed like they were out of gas, losing six of their last seven going into the regional, they persevered. I did not have the Cardiac Canes getting out of Hattiesburg, and yet here they are, two wins away from Omaha. Kudos to Coach Arteaga; he managed the game pretty well and pulled his pitchers at the right time. The fans should take in this moment all week because UM surely earned it.

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