Meet the Hurricanes… a team on a heater
Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Miami
Mascot: This Guy | School Location: Tuttletown, FL | Conference: ACC
2025 Record: 27-18 (12-9, T-7th) | 2025 RPI Rank: 36
2024 Record: 27-30 (11-19, 6th Coastal) | 2024 RPI Rank: 81
2023 Record: 42-21 (18-12, 2nd Coastal) | 2023 RPI Rank: 16
When? Where? How do I watch?
Location: Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field (Coral Gables, FL)
Game Time(s): Fri, May 2 @ 7:00pm, Sat, May 3 @ 6:00pm | Sun, May 4 @ 1:00pm
TV: Friday (ACCNX), Saturday (ACCNX), Sunday (ACCNX)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Friday | Saturday | Sunday)
Tell me about this team
Man, what a difference a few weeks makes, huh? That statement can be said for both NC State and Miami, but even more so for the Hurricanes. Just a few weeks ago, Miami was staring down a coaching change for the third time in seven seasons, which is insane after Jim Morris was there for 25 years, but that was the reality. Former Hurricanes pitcher and long-time pitching coach J.D. Artega took over for Gino DiMare ahead of the 2024 season, and up until about a month ago, Miami was likely to send him packing.
Since the start of their series with Pittsburgh on April 4th, Miami is 12-3 and has won 8 straight ACC games. Prior to that, the Hurricanes were 42-45 with a 13-26 record in ACC games. That coming on the heels of DiMare’s “resignation” after winning 40+ games in three of his four full seasons at the helm… and there weren’t many around the program who were upset with his stepping down after the 2023 season ended in the NCAA Regional round for the third straight year.
But, you know, things change. And this Miami team is hot right now, which you probably guessed by that 10-2 record in series wins over Pitt, Duke, Georgia Tech, and Boston College.
As you’d expect with a former pitcher and pitching coach leading the program, the pitching has been overall solid with a line of 27-18, 9 SV, 4.76 ERA, 388.0 IP, 9.3 BB%, 23.6 K%. Limiting the extra-base hits has been key, with Miami ranking 20th in the country in opposing Slugging Percentage (.361). What’s more impressive is the fact that they’ve been relying on a pair of freshmen in the starting rotation after losing SO RHP Nick Robert (2-4, 7.14 ERA, 29.0 IP, 8.0 BB%, 27.7 K%), the team’s Friday starter at the beginning of the year, to an elbow injury. It’s also helped to have Winthrop transfer rSR RHP Reese Lumpkin (3-2, 5.27 ERA, 42.2 IP, 8.6 BB%, 20.3 K%) absolutely eating innings as the midweek starter, lessening the load on a talented but thin bullpen.
Those aforementioned freshmen starting arms have only recently entered the starting rotation, which just so happens to coincide with this recent run of positive results. I’m sure that’s not coincidental. Aside from their one loss in the Duke series where the Blue Devils popped Miami for 13 runs, the Hurricanes have allowed just 3.0 runs/game over the other 12 games in their recent run since the start of the Pitt series.
The lineup, meanwhile, has also been solid with a combined line of .271/.364/.436, 79 2B, 55 HR, 10.2 BB%, 19.0 K%, 54-65 SB. There’s a clear top nine, but with the recent absence of stud SR RF Derek Williams, there’s a few more bats thrown in the mix.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Dominic Fritton (JR) — RHP Griffin Hugus (JR)
Saturday: RHP Heath Andrews (SO) — RHP A.J. Ciscar (FR)
Sunday: LHP Ryan Marohn (SO) — RHP Tate DeRias (FR)
Key Players:
Offense
RF Derek Williams (SR) – .345/.417/.647, 11 2B, 8 HR, 7.6 BB%, 20.5 K%, 9-12 SB. Williams broke a bone in his left hand back on April 12 and is out until at best the ACC Tournament. That’s a tough blow for this team as he was their best all-around offensive weapon. Clearly, though, the team has rallied in his absence.
SS Jake Ogden (JR) – .337/.403/.472, 9 2B, 5 HR, 8.9 BB%, 16.7 K%, 10-10 SB. Transfer from UNCG after starting his career at DII Barry University. Has done nothing but hit at every successive rung up the ladder.
3B Daniel Cuvet (SO) – .323/.392/.581, 11 2B, 10 HR, 8.8 BB%, 20.6 K%, 6-7 SB. Crushed 24 HR and registered 75 RBI as a freshman in 2024 to earn Freshman All-American honors and 2nd Team All-ACC recognition. Was drafted in the 17th round out of high school, but only because he had a firm commitment to Miami. Trending towards a 1st round pick in 2026.
LF Max Galvin (rJR) – .279/.347/.411, 9 2B, 4 HR, 8.5 BB%, 9.7 K%, 8-9 SB. Spent his first two years in JUCO ball before spending last year at Oklahoma State, although he never played for the Cowboys. Has been hot of late with five multi-hit efforts over the team’s last 12 games.
Pitching
RHP Griffin Hugus (JR) – 4-4, 3.56 ERA, 60.2 IP, 8.9 BB%, 26.5 K%. Cincinnati transfer started just three games over his two years with the Bearcats, but has started all 11 of his appearances for Miami this year. Has allowed just 1 ER over his last two starts (10.1 IP) with 6 BB and 9 K. Real good stuff and the control has been a pleasant plus for the Hurricanes this year after he struggled with it at Cincy (40 BB in 54.1 IP)
RHP A.J. Ciscar (FR) – 3-1, 3.98 ERA, 40.2 IP, 5.7 BB%, 23.0 K%. Has far exceeded expectations this year. As a starter: 5 starts, 25.0 IP, 16 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 6 BB, 10 HBP, 25 K. Clearly a big risk, big reward guy. The pitches have good life, and hitters should be patient with him.
RHP Tate DeRias (FR) – 2-0, 2.60 ERA, 34.2 IP, 7.6 BB%, 17.9 K%. The New Jersey native came in with high hopes for what he could be come, but relatively low expectations for results in his first year. He’s clearly surpassing that. As a starter: 4 starts, 20.0 IP, 19 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 2 HBP, 11 K.
RHP Brian Walters (rJR) – 2-2, 6 SV, 4.83 ERA, 41.0 IP, 7.0 BB%, 25.1 K%. Former JUCO transfer in his third year with Miami, although he missed most all of 2023 with an injury. Started the year as the Hurricanes’ Sunday starter but struggled in that role. As a reliever, it’s allowed his velo – which can hit the upper 90’s – to play up more and the results have been great in that role: 7 appearances, 10.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 8 K.
RHP Alex Giroux (rSR) – 5-2, 1 SV, 6.30 ERA, 30.0 IP, 5.9 BB%, 17.6 K%. The Oregon native started his career at Washington before going the JUCO route, then to Hawaii for two years, and now with Miami. Was the Saturday starter for the first three weeks of the season before getting bumped to the bullpen. Pounds the zone and induces a lot of weak contact.
RHP Will Smith (rSR) – 2-0, 2 SV, 3.54 ERA, 20.1 IP, 14.0 BB%, 33.3 K%. Coastal Carolina transfer. Just filthy stuff all around, if and when he can control it. Sometimes the control doesn’t even matter, though. Devastating curveball with a 42.9% chase rate on (10th best mark in the country), as well as a great cutter that he gets a whiff on 61.4% of the time (4th best mark in the country) and a slider that gets a whiff 55.2% of the time (25th best mark in the country).
RHP Carson Fischer (rSR) – 4-1, 4.88 ERA, 27.2 IP, 11.7 BB%, 18.3 K%. Transfer from DII Davenport University. Thought he might get a look as a starter after starting 27 games over the last two years with 6 complete games, but so far all 22 appearances have come in relief. Big 6’5, 225 pound frame. Hasn’t allowed a run over his last 5 outings (9.2 IP).
Quick! Fun Facts!
Given the history of the program, it’s surprising that just two former Hurricanes have appeared at the MLB level in 2025: RHP Victor Mederos (Angels) and INF Romy Gonzalez (Red Sox).
Miami has 25 College World Series appearances in program history, including 4 national championships (1982, 1985, 1999, 2001). The Hurricanes made the CWS in 22 of 31 seasons between 1978 and 2008, which is an absurd run.
NC State FR RHP Aden Knowles was high school teammates at Tampa Jesuit High School with Miami SO OF Jake Kulikowski.
Miami leads the all-time series between the two programs, 40-22, with a 22-9 record against the Wolfpack in Coral Gables.
The Key To A Series Win For State
The Wolfpack were able to overcome early deficits in each of their three wins over Clemson last weekend, but the other shoe dropped on Tuesday against UNCW and NC State was unable to dig out of the early hole. Getting the first run on the board on the road will be huge, as will be getting length from the starting pitchers given the bullpen’s lack of depth.
Prediction
State has played the harder schedule of late, but both teams are hot. With this series being in Miami and with it being just the third true road series of the year for the Pack, it’s hard to see State coming through with the series win.
Outcome: Hurricanes take two of three.