If I want to go to Matsuyama having in mind the following itinerary, how should I get there?

Having the 14 day JR Pass, I want to go to visit (as well as other places, this is just from Osaka) Matsuyama and Hiroshima. I want to save up as much time as possible on the train trips, so, having the JR Pass, can I go from Osaka to Hiroshima, and on that same day go to Matsuyama (from Hiroshima) and stay there over night, and leave, back to Osaka, the following day? Or should I take an other route? I have heard the only way to get from Hiroshima to Matsuyama with the JR Pass is going back to Osaka, but that would take too much time. Is there a way to get there from Hiroshima? Or should I take an other route and go to Okayama and Takamatsu on the way… Any help appreciated?