Just a month ago, Miami Hurricanes baseball was teetering on the edge of collapse. With a middling 16-16 overall record and a disappointing 3-8 start in ACC play, frustration among fans boiled over—so much so that message boards began buzzing with calls to part ways with first-year head coach J.D. Arteaga. Fast forward to today, and the Canes are rewriting their narrative with one of the most impressive turnarounds in college baseball.
Miami (29-18, 14-9 ACC) now finds itself as arguably the hottest team in the nation, having secured its fifth straight conference series victory by dismantling No. 13 NC State 10-3 at Mark Light Field. The win also extended their ACC win streak to 10 games; a feat not achieved since 2014. What once looked like a lost season is now gaining serious momentum and possibly a top-25 ranking.
At the center of the resurgence is freshman right-hander AJ Ciscar. Thrust into the starting rotation after a season-ending injury to Nick Robert, Ciscar delivered a poised and dominant performance against the Wolfpack, tossing 6.2 innings of one-run baseball, scattering five hits, and striking out six. His emergence has given the Hurricanes a new identity and much-needed stability on the mound.
Miami’s bats roared to life behind veteran leadership and clutch hitting. Daniel Cuvet and Dorian Gonzalez Jr. were unstoppable, combining for six hits and seven RBIs. Cuvet, who has become a cornerstone of the lineup, continued his RBI barrage with a 3-for-3 outing, including two doubles and three runs driven in. Gonzalez Jr. was just as lethal, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs, two of which came during a decisive five-run fourth inning that broke the game open.
That inning featured an avalanche of offense, sparked by a defensive error, a bases-loaded walk, and key hits from the heart of the lineup. By the time catcher Tanner Smith capped the rally with an RBI single, Miami had built an 8-1 lead that NC State never threatened.
The bullpen closed the door with solid relief appearances, and even two late runs by the Wolfpack in the ninth weren’t enough to dim the dominance on display.
From 16-16 to 29-18, from disarray to dominance, the Hurricanes have clawed their way back into the postseason conversation. As they prepare for Sunday’s finale with a sweep on the line, one thing is clear: Miami baseball is no longer on life support , it’s alive, kicking, and surging at the right time.
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