USM’s record season ends in Hattiesburg Regional

At times, the game of baseball can be unforgiving. Costly errors and judgment calls by the umpire sometimes overshadow accomplishments that can only be appreciated later. On the flipside, winning an NCAA Regional Championship is something that can be appreciated right now.
Two very different feelings for Southern Miss and Mississippi State after a controversial end to the Hattiesburg Regional filled with unbridled joy and heartbreak.
For the Bulldogs, their second straight trip to the round of 16 by virtue of winning four games in two days to come all the way out of the loser’s bracket. Mississippi State Senior Cody Brown said, “It’s tough to have your back against the wall like that, and you don’t know if it’s going to be your last day wearing a Mississippi State jersey. But it’s awesome and we push through it and I get to wear it for at least two more games now.”
Mississippi State Head Coach Andy Cannizaro said, “I’m just almost at a loss for words in terms of just how proud I am of the fight that these guys had this year. This has been a special run, a special season and we’re excited as can be to be playing next weekend down in Baton Rouge.”
With a win Monday, it would have been the Golden Eagles punching their ticket to the Supers versus LSU, but it seemingly just wasn’t meant to be. “The game is sometimes unforgiving, which we’re all feeling right now.”
In the top of the eighth, USM gave up the go-ahead run on a bloop single from Co-National Player of the Year Brent Rooker. In the bottom half, the potential game-tying run was instead the most controversial call of the entire regional, leading to the ejection of Southern Miss Head Coach Scott Berry.
Also part of the game is putting things in perspective for a Southern Miss team that won its first outright Conference USA regular season title since 2003, hosted its first regional since 2003, and set a new school record with 50 wins. Southern Miss Head Coach Scott Berry said, “What I don’t want to lose in this whole thing is yes, our season ended today, but what a great season it was for these young men that are sitting next to me and all their teammates. A very, very special group that I will always be grateful for.”
Southern Miss First baseman Dylan Burdeaux said, “I wouldn’t say any lasting words. I mean this ride has been unbelievable. It’s definitely one I’m never going to forget. Never going to forget these guys right here and what this coaching staff did for me. They gave me the opportunity to play Division I baseball. It was four of the most fun years of my life so I’ll never forget these guys, the relationships I’ve made and definitely will be lifelong friends for sure.”
Former Biloxi Indian Cody Brown was named the Most Valuable Player of the Hattiesburg Regional.