The Miami Hurricanes made a powerful statement in the NCAA Baseball Tournament on Sunday, delivering a dominant 14-1 victory over Columbia to secure a spot in the Hattiesburg Regional final. It was a wire-to-wire performance that showcased Miami’s offensive depth, pitching strength, and postseason poise as the program seeks a return to the College World Series for the first time since 2016.
Coming off a disappointing loss to Southern Miss in the regional opener, the Hurricanes rebounded in emphatic fashion. After eliminating Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Miami wasted no time continuing its surge against Columbia. The Hurricanes pounced on Lions starter Joe Sheets in the opening frame and never looked back, piling up runs in nearly every inning en route to the lopsided win.
Freshman slugger Dominic Pitelli set the tone early, launching a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. From there, the Miami bats stayed hot — collecting 16 hits overall, including six extra-base hits. Junior first baseman CJ Kayfus added three RBIs, while Blake Cyr and Edgardo Villegas each contributed multi-hit games that helped stretch Columbia’s pitching staff thin by the middle innings.
“We’ve been preaching resilience all year, and I think we saw that today,” Miami head coach J.D. Arteaga said postgame. “After a tough start to the weekend, our guys responded the way we knew they could. They played loose, aggressive, and they didn’t take their foot off the gas.”
On the mound, it was sophomore right-hander Karson Ligon who stole the spotlight. Making just his third start since returning from an early-season injury, Ligon tossed six dominant innings, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out seven. He kept Columbia off balance with a sharp fastball-slider combo and showed the kind of command Miami has missed in key games throughout the season.
“I felt really comfortable out there,” Ligon said. “My defense had my back, and once we got up early, I just focused on attacking hitters and letting the game come to me.”
Columbia, the Ivy League champions who upset Auburn in the first round of the regional, simply couldn’t replicate that magic against the more seasoned Hurricanes. After tying the game briefly at 1-1 in the top of the second, the Lions were held scoreless the rest of the way, managing only two baserunners after the fourth inning.
Miami’s bullpen — a source of concern during the regular season — looked sharp and composed. Sophomore Alejandro Torres and freshman Roland Franco combined for three shutout innings in relief, efficiently closing the door and preserving the bullpen’s availability for Monday’s regional final.
Perhaps most impressive was the Hurricanes’ approach at the plate. Miami hitters drew six walks and struck out only five times, displaying the patience and situational awareness that had sometimes eluded them in key ACC matchups this spring. Every starter reached base at least once, and seven different players drove in runs.
“We’re clicking at the right time,” Kayfus said. “There’s a belief in the dugout that we can beat anybody when we’re playing our game. Today was a complete team win, and now we’re ready for the final.”
With the win, Miami advances to the regional championship, where they will get a rematch against Southern Miss — the host and top seed in the bracket. The Hurricanes will need to defeat the Golden Eagles twice in order to advance to the Super Regionals, while Southern Miss needs just one more win to punch their ticket.
If Sunday’s performance is any indication, Miami may be finding its stride at just the right moment.
“We know what’s at stake,” Arteaga said. “Our guys are locked in. We’re going to come out tomorrow with the same energy and the same mindset — keep fighting, keep swinging, and play Hurricane baseball.”
The regional final is scheduled for Monday evening, with Miami likely turning to junior Alejandro Rosario or freshman standout Rafe Schlesinger on the mound. Either way, the Hurricanes appear ready — both mentally and physically — for the challenge.
For a program with a storied postseason legacy, the chance to take another step forward now lies directly in their hands. And after Sunday’s rout, they’ve sent a clear message to the rest of the bracket: the ‘Canes are still dancing, and they’re not done yet.
