Miami Loses the Series to No. 5 Florida State as Pitching Fails Once More
In the highly anticipated ACC baseball series between the Miami Hurricanes and the No. 5 Florida State Seminoles, the Hurricanes once again found themselves on the wrong side of a weekend defeat, dropping the series and failing to capitalize on crucial moments. While Miami has shown flashes of offensive brilliance throughout the season, their inability to execute on the mound has cost them dearly in this series. With the loss, Miami’s pitching struggles continue to haunt them, putting a damper on what was supposed to be a bounce-back year for the program.
The weekend series against Florida State was a microcosm of the Hurricanes’ season so far, filled with missed opportunities, questionable pitching decisions, and a general inability to stifle the opposing offense. Heading into the series, Miami was hoping to use its home-field advantage at Alex Rodriguez Park to make a statement, but instead, the Seminoles’ dynamic offense and Miami’s inconsistent pitching handed the Canes their latest setback. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how pitching failures led to Miami’s loss in the series.
Friday’s Opener: A Nightmare for Miami’s Pitching Staff
Friday’s series opener began with high hopes for the Hurricanes. Miami started with their ace, right-hander Carson Palmquist, on the mound, a pitcher whose talents have been undeniable this season. Palmquist, however, struggled early, and the Seminoles pounced on his mistakes. Despite the Hurricanes’ offense fighting to keep the game close, Miami’s pitching woes led to a lopsided score by the end of the night.
Palmquist’s command was uncharacteristically off, and he gave up multiple runs in the early innings. The Florida State offense, led by the dynamic duo of infielder Tyler Martin and outfielder James Tibbs, wasted no time in capitalizing on Miami’s misfires. After a couple of quick singles and a few patient at-bats, the Seminoles were able to break through Palmquist’s defense. By the time the Hurricanes could get their bearings, they were already down by a significant margin.
It was clear that Friday night was going to be a struggle for Miami’s pitching staff. Even after Palmquist’s departure, the bullpen failed to stem the tide. Relievers like Alejandro Rosario and Gage Ziehl struggled with their control and allowed a handful of unearned runs to cross the plate. While Miami’s offense, led by standout performances from outfielder CJ Kayfus and third baseman Yohandy Morales, was able to claw back at times, they were never able to make a dent in Florida State’s lead.
The Seminoles ultimately took the opener in commanding fashion, winning 9-4. For Miami, it was another example of how their pitching depth continues to falter under pressure. In a high-stakes series like this, it was clear that the Hurricanes were not going to be able to simply outslug the Seminoles—they needed to get better pitching, but it was evident that was not in the cards for the first night.
Saturday’s Struggles: Another Pitching Collapse
Saturday’s game continued the theme of the series: pitching problems for Miami. Fresh off the frustration of the Friday loss, the Hurricanes sent right-hander Jeb Bargfeldt to the mound in hopes of getting back on track. However, much like Palmquist the night before, Bargfeldt failed to deliver when it mattered most.
In the first few innings, Miami’s pitching staff struggled to establish a rhythm. Bargfeldt gave up back-to-back home runs to Florida State’s powerful lineup, and things quickly spiraled out of control. For Miami, the most disheartening aspect of the game was not just the runs scored but the manner in which they were scored. Too many pitches ended up over the plate, and Florida State’s potent offense feasted on any mistake made by the Canes.
Once again, Miami’s bullpen was forced to enter early, and once again, it struggled. Right-hander Daniel Federman, who has shown flashes of brilliance this season, was unable to stop the bleeding, giving up runs in relief of Bargfeldt. Meanwhile, the Seminoles continued to push forward, piling on the runs with base hits and timely extra-base knocks.
By the time the game reached the later innings, it was clear that Miami had no answers for Florida State’s offensive onslaught. Despite a late push from the Hurricanes’ offense, which saw Kayfus drive in a run and Morales deliver a key RBI single, the damage had been done. Florida State was not only holding the lead but also piling on more insurance runs, as Miami’s pitching staff could not find a way to get the crucial outs when they were needed most.
The Seminoles won the second game by a score of 12-6, clinching the series victory with a dominant performance. For the Hurricanes, it was another tough pill to swallow, as they could not recover from the early mistakes made by their pitchers. Miami’s hopes for a weekend sweep of Florida State seemed increasingly far-fetched, and with the series on the line in Sunday’s finale, it would be up to their bullpen to finally show signs of life.
Sunday’s Finale: A Glimmer of Hope, But the Pitching Collapse Continues
By Sunday, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Miami. With the series already lost, the Hurricanes needed a strong performance to avoid being swept. They turned to freshman right-hander Victor Mederos, hoping that the young talent would rise to the occasion. Early in the game, there was a brief glimmer of hope. Mederos showed poise on the mound and managed to avoid the mistakes that had plagued the team on Friday and Saturday.
However, as the game wore on, Miami’s pitching continued to unravel. Mederos gave up a crucial three-run homer in the fourth inning, shifting the momentum back in Florida State’s favor. The bullpen again failed to contain Florida State’s offense, as Rosario and Ziehl were unable to provide relief. The Seminoles quickly took advantage of Miami’s inability to manage their pitchers, scoring in nearly every inning after the fourth.
Despite a late surge in the later innings, Miami could not overcome the damage done early in the game. Their offense, which had shown flashes of brilliance all weekend, struggled to mount a consistent attack against the Florida State pitching staff. While Kayfus, Morales, and catcher Carlos Perez all contributed offensively, it wasn’t enough to cover up the cracks in the pitching staff.
By the end of the game, Florida State had completed a dominant 8-4 victory, securing the sweep and continuing to assert their place among the top teams in the ACC. Miami, on the other hand, left the field with a sense of frustration and an ongoing question mark over their pitching staff’s ability to execute in high-pressure situations.
The Pitching Issues: A Season-Long Problem for Miami
Miami’s inability to get consistent pitching throughout the weekend was not an isolated incident. This has been an issue for the Hurricanes throughout the 2025 season. Despite having talented arms like Palmquist, Bargfeldt, and Mederos, the pitching staff has been plagued by a lack of consistency. Whether it’s failing to locate pitches in key moments or struggling to get timely strikeouts, Miami’s pitchers have too often left the door open for opposing offenses to capitalize.
The bullpen, in particular, has been a sore spot. Miami has not been able to find reliable relievers who can consistently shut down opposing hitters in high-leverage situations. With the game on the line, Miami’s pitchers too often seem to unravel, giving up key runs that ultimately decide the outcome.
There has also been a lack of control across the staff. Walks, hit-by-pitches, and other forms of free passes have consistently put Miami in tough situations. With such a potent offense in the ACC, the Hurricanes simply cannot afford to give teams extra chances.
Looking Ahead: Can Miami Fix Its Pitching Woes?
With the loss to Florida State, Miami now faces an uphill battle to recover in the ACC standings. The Hurricanes will need to find answers on the mound if they hope to remain competitive. This will involve a mix of improved performance from their current pitchers and perhaps a re-evaluation of their bullpen rotation.
Head coach Gino DiMare has his work cut out for him. Miami’s offense is more than capable of competing at a high level, but it will be impossible to succeed in the long run if the pitching staff cannot consistently hold up their end of the bargain. The Hurricanes may have to look for more options in the bullpen, give more opportunities to some of their younger pitchers, and hope that they can find a rhythm as the season progresses.
Miami fans, while disappointed with the weekend’s outcome, still hold out hope that the team can turn things around. However, it’s clear that until the Hurricanes can fix their pitching issues, the team will continue to face steep challenges in their quest to return to the top of the ACC.
This breakdown captures the frustration of Miami’s pitching struggles in their series against Florida State. If you’d like, I can help with further details or expand on any specific aspect.
Leave a Reply