2022 NCAA Tournament Hattiesburg Super Regional Preview

Image credit: USM RHP Hurston Waldrep (Photo courtesy of Southern Miss)

Southern Mississippi

Postseason history: Second super regional appearance, first since 2009. Seeking second College World Series appearance, first since 2009.

Postseason route: No. 1 in Hattiesburg Regional. Went 4-1, defeating Louisiana State twice in regional final.

Scouting report (anonymous coach breaks down the Golden Eagles)

“Clearly, it’s their pitching and when you talk about their starting pitching, it’s really, really good. But as they showed, certainly in the regionals this weekend, they’ve got some depth in there. Kids that maybe didn’t throw a ton of big innings during the year came on for them later in the year.

“They’re completely different guys (Tanner Hall and Hurston Waldrep). Hall’s got all those different versions of the changeup, and can really pinpoint the ball, move the ball around. He throws it where he wants to. Waldrep’s got the big arm and the good slider. Just a young kid that’s probably going to make a few mistakes. They’re just completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Waldrep’s going to come after you 92-96 (mph) and slider, couple of changeups. Hall can get it up to 92, pitches at 90-91 a lot of times when he’s fresh, but you’re going to get the changeup at some point, and it’s a darn good one. He can do some different things with it. He cuts it a little bit, turns it over a little bit. I thought (Hunter Riggins) was fantastic, and he threw a great game in the regionals.

“If you make your pitches, you can get them out. It’s not like you go, ‘Oh God, we’ve got nothing to get this guy out.’ They’ve been very much mistake hitters, but I guess a lot of people are. They’ve just got some experienced kids (like) (Danny) Lynch, (Gabe) Montenegro, (Dustin) Dickerson, they’ve got some kids that have played a lot like (Slade) Wilks, (Reece) Ewing, (Christopher) Sargent. They’ve got some kids that have some at-bats under their belt, so I don’t think they’re going to be shocked or intimidated, and of course they play Ole Miss anyway during the year a couple of times.

“Dickerson is really good at short, the other three (infielders), the turf helps them. Not very athletic at all, but they’ll make the routine plays.”

Projected lineup

C: Rodrigo Montenegro
1B: Christopher Sargent
2B: Will McGillis
3B: Danny Lynch
SS: Dustin Dickerson
LF: Reece Ewing
CF: Gabe Montenegro
RF: Carson Paetow
DH: Slade Wilks
SP: Tanner Hall
SP: Hurston Waldrep
SP: Hunter Riggins
RP: Landon Harper
RP: Dalton Rogers

Mississippi

Coach: Mike Bianco

Postseason history: Eighth super regional appearance (third straight). Seeking sixth trip to Omaha and first since 2014.

Postseason route: No. 3 seed in Coral Gables Regional. Went 3-0, defeating Arizona in regional final.

Scouting report (anonymous coach breaks down the Rebels)

“They’re good. That offense is going to speak for itself. Jacob Gonzalez is the table setter, he can get things going quickly and he’s hard to get out. Then you’re dealing with Tim Elko. I’m not throwing that guy a fastball ever. He’s one of the most mature power hitters in our league. Kevin Graham, since he’s been back, they’ve been rocking and rolling. Who I really like who doesn’t get spoken about enough is Justin Bench. He’s going to help you in every aspect of the game and play good defense wherever they put him. They’ve all been there like 30 years together it feels like.

“I would throw Elko a ton of right-on-right sliders. I don’t know what his splits are right now, but if I’m a righthander, I’m spinning him to death outside the plate. Fastballs in, sliders away and make him feel uncomfortable.

“Dylan Delucia, he throws that rising fastball, he’s got crazy analytics. Hunter Elliott is a Team USA kid this summer, Derek Diamond and then Brandon Johnson closing it out for them. It’s power, he’s coming right at you.

“The outfield is not going to throw great. You can probably put some pressure on the outfield. Everywhere else is solid. Peyton Chatagnier is solid, Gonzalez makes every play, Bench makes every play. Hayden Dunhurst is arguably one of the better catchers in the league and it’s hard to run on them.

“They’re playing with the ultimate confidence. When it’s like that, you’re playing like you can’t lose. Even if you get down you think you’ll come back. That’s how they’re playing. If you get into one of those games like they did against Arizona last week, they’re going to keep going. They can put up runs. You’re going to have to outscore them, which is hard to do, especially playing with that confidence.”

Projected lineup

C: Hayden Dunhurst
1B: Tim Elko
2B: Peyton Chatagnier
3B: Garrett Wood
SS: Jacob Gonzalez
LF: Kevin Graham
CF: Justin Bench
RF: Calvin Harris
DH: Kemp Alderman
SP: Dylan Delucia
SP: Hunter Elliott
SP: Derek Diamond
RP: Brandon Johnson
RP: Josh Mallitz