Daniel Cuvet got Miami started with a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning, Dorian Gonzalez singled him home and scored on a wild pitch and the Hurricanes were never seriously challenged in a 14-1 win over Columbia in the winners bracket game of the Hattiesburg Regional on Saturday night.
Miami advanced to its first regional final since losing to Texas at home in 2023. Griffin Hugus saved the Miami bullpen, pitching a complete game and allowing only a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to Anton Lazits. Miami answered Lantzis' HR with a four-run bottom of the fourth.
A Max Galvin double that scored Jake Ogden was followed by an intentional walk to Cuvet and a three-run HR by Gonzalez to put Miami in front 8-1. Galvin hit a two-run HR in the sixth, Gonzalez added a grand slam in the seventh and Michael Torres had an RBI single in the eighth for Miami.
Columbia will play regional host Southern Mississippi on Sunday at 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The Lions upset the Golden Eagles 11-4 on Friday. Miami plays the winner of Columbia and Southern Mississippi at 7:00 PM EDT on Sunday night. A Miami win advances the Hurricanes to the Super Regional.
Hugus allowed eight hits, walked one batter and hit three with nine strikeouts in a critical performance. Gonzalez had three hits in four at-bats with three runs scored and eight runs batted in. Six Miami batters had multiple hits, with Galvin also recording three on Saturday.
Tate DeRias (2-2, 3.98 earned run average), who has been the Sunday starter over the last six weeks, is the likely starter for Miami on Sunday. The linear television network has not been announced for the regional final on Sunday night. Miami versus Columbia or Southern Mississippi will be streamed on ESPN+.