Golden Eagles’ rally falls one run short in heartbreaking loss to Miami
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Southern Miss fell 5-4 to Miami after winning three straight regional games.
- Miami used two-run frames in the fifth and sixth innings to gain decisive edge.
- Southern Miss extended its streak to five regional final trips despite the loss.
The gas tank emptied on Southern Miss’ weekend rally.
The Golden Eagles struggled to keep pace with Miami in the Hattiesburg Regional finale Monday, falling 5-4 after winning three straight games in two days to force the winner-take-all match.
Carson Paetow hit a two-run home run with one out left in USM’s season, but it would be the Vancleave product’s final at bat as a Golden Eagle.
The Hurricanes scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to turn what had been a tie game into a 5-1 lead that proved insurmountable for the Golden Eagles.
“This game was a tough game,” USM coach Christian Ostrander said after the game. “They had some really good arms on the mound. We couldn’t get much going.”
Matt Adams got the start on the mound after throwing 75 pitches Friday and ate through the first four innings with only one run allowed. Adams had Miami down to its last strike in the fifth when the momentum took a turn for the Hurricanes.
Michael Torres singled into right field on a 1-2 count and came home on a Jake Ogden double. Josh Och would replace Adams and let Ogden in when Max Galvin singled facing an 0-2 count.
Southern Miss put together its strongest rallies in the final two innings. A line of shirtless children sprinted through the stands in the eighth, igniting the crowd during back-to-back walks to Seth Smith and Jake Cook.
A fielder’s choice, a strikeout and a ground out ended the opportunity and left USM with its sixth scoreless frame.
Southern Miss failed to pick up an extra base hit until the ninth inning after totaling 13 through the first four games of the regional and four in Sunday night’s 17-run outburst against the same team.
“It was tough to lose, tough to end it, but I’m proud of these guys,” Ostrander said.
Matthew Russo and Tucker Stockman produced the first pair of Golden Eagle runs with RBI singles in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively.
The Canes got home runs from Derek Williams and Dorian Gonzalez Jr. and a two-inning save from Brian Walters.
Southern Miss ends the year extending its streak of regional final appearances to five, but did miss an opportunity to host its third Super Regional in four years.
Miami will meet Louisville this weekend in the Super Regional round.
The end of a powerful bond
The 47 wins by the Golden Eagles are tied for the second-most in program history and the regional served as the team’s ninth straight trip to the NCAA tournament.
This accomplished by a team that entered the season unranked and with question marks surrounding its staff, coming off a season in which it allowed its most runs since 2010.
It matched tradition by playing for a conference title and set school history with 18 consecutive wins. Ostrander places the credit for the success on the program’s longtime clubhouse residents.
“This was one of the most powerful player-led teams I have ever been associated with,” Ostrander said. “That’s a credit to guys like Carson (Paetow) and guys like Matt (Adams) and so many others that are out there hurting right now because this is over.”
Paetow’s ninth inning swing placed him alone at fifth all time for career home runs at USM. It’s one of many honors the fifth-year senior has accumulated, though he points to his two-time captaincy as his greatest achievement.
For the former Bulldog, playing baseball at USM was more about the in-between moments and less about the at bats.
“I tell everybody this, I don’t remember hardly anything that happened on the field,” Paetow said. “I can’t tell you how me or my teammates did on a midweek two years ago but I can tell you a bunch of stuff that happens in the locker room on a random Thursday. It’s the coaches and teammates that make it all special.”
Along with Paetow and Adams, USM will have to deal with the losses of Ozzie Pratt and MLB draft prospects JB Middleton and Nick Monistere, among others.
While this group was special in its identity, Ostrander pointed out the silver lining for a team carrying the longest 40-win season streak in baseball: “This team is done, but there will be another one next year.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM.
