Despite scoring three runs in the final three innings, Southern Miss could not muster up enough to beat Miami and win its own regional on Monday night. The final score was 5-4.
The Golden Eagles lost their opening game in the Hattiesburg Regional to Ivy League champions Columbia on Friday night before bouncing back with a win over Alabama on Saturday. On Sunday, Southern Miss defeated the Lions in a rematch before beating Miami to force a do-or-die Monday game.
Here’s a short recap of what happened.
Scoring summary
With pitching running low for both programs, Southern Miss and Miami exchanged early runs as Miami’s Derek Williams hit a solo home run in the top of the first. Two innings later, Southern Miss’ Matthew Russo drove in Ozzie Pratt on an RBI single.
The fifth and sixth innings belonged to Miami and broke open the scoreboard. The Hurricanes put up two runs in each frame, highlighted by a solo shot off the bat of Dorian Gonzalez. The score was 5-1 going into the seventh.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Tucker Stockman laced an RBI single for Southern Miss to slim the lead. Carson Paetow then hit a two-run blast in the ninth, but the rally was cut short.
What the coach said
As Christian Ostrander reflected on the program’s ninth consecutive season with more than 40 wins, excluding the shortened 2020 season, he discussed how they aim to recruit players who are ready for college action from the start.
“Well, you know, it’s kind of our bread and butter to develop high school talent and letting them grow, preparing for moments like this,” the second-year head coach and former assistant said. “We have trust in our players to grow, but a lot of times, they earn that trust.”
Ostrander was disappointed the season ended in regional play but still proud of his group that finished with a 47-16 record.
Numbers never lie
None of the Golden Eagles had multiple hits, but three – Jake Cook, Ben Higdon, and Russo – reached base twice. Paetow only had one hit in his final game, but it’s one that will be remembered by fans as hitting the scoreboard and closing a storybook career.
Despite the loss for Matthew Adams (6-4), the hurler threw nine strikeouts across 4 2/3 innings. Landen Payne allowed zero runs in three frames of relief with five strikeouts.
All-Regional Team
Five Southern Miss players were named to the All-Hattiesburg Regional Team: Stickman, Russo, Higdon, Joey Urban, and Camden Sunstrom.
2025 NCAA Hattiesburg All-Regional Team
C – Tucker Stockman, Southern Miss
1B – Matthew Russo, Southern Miss
2B – Jack Kail, Columbia
3B – Daniel Cuvet, Miami
SS – Sam Miller, Columbia
OF – Ben Higdon, Southern Miss
OF – Anton Lazits, Columbia
OF – Max Galvin, Miami
DH – Joey Urban, Southern Miss
P – Griffin Hugus, Miami
P – Camden Sunstrom, Southern Miss
MVP – Daniel Cuvet, Miami
