This weekend saw plenty of movement as five teams in the Top 25 lost to teams that were outside of the Top 25, two of which were swept. Ten teams in the conference currently have eight, nine, or ten ACC wins. Top to bottom, this could be the deepest ACC we have ever seen. You really can not take a week off; just ask Louisville and Notre Dame. And Miami.
Let’s go ahead and dive into this weekend's results.
Duke Shocks No. 4 Notre Dame, Sweeps Fighting Irish
Entering the weekend, the Blue Devils were on a six game conference losing streak and had not won an ACC series in five attempts this season. Facing one of the best collective pitching staffs in the entire country, Duke was expected to have their hands full.
The Blue Devils had other plans, pounding out 36 hits and scoring 25 runs to complete the sweep of the visiting Fighting Irish squad, with 15 of the runs coming in the opening game of the series.
Duke took care of business early and often on Thursday, with the eventual knockout punch coming in the 8th inning when the Blue Devils scored seven runs to win game one, 15-5. With an opportunity to win the series on Friday, Duke failed to cash in throughout the game, leaving nine runners on base.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, RJ Schreck had seen enough. With runners on first and second and one out, Schreck lined a ball to right field, scoring Alex Mooney to win the series. Jimmy Loper, who picked up the save on Thursday for the Blue Devils, also tossed three innings on Friday to earn the win.
Notre Dame will host Wake Forest next weekend as they attempt to get back in the win column.
Panthers Stay Hot, Beat No. 9 Virginia
Pittsburgh has now won their fourth straight ACC series after taking two games from the visiting Cavaliers. Although the Panthers were outscored 23-13, they still won the series. Baseball can be a strange game.
It may sound like a broken record, but Matt Gilberston picked up his sixth win of the season after another strong performance on Friday. Gilbertson went eight innings, giving up four runs to one of the highest scoring offenses in the nation.
The Cavaliers released some of their built up anger on Saturday, walloping the Panthers 18-0, setting up a big rubber match on Sunday.
You have to tip your hat to the Pittsburgh pitching staff yet again as Billy Corcoran recorded his fifth win of the season after an impressive seven inning outing, giving up zero earned runs. Baron Stuart picked up the save, tossing the final two frames.
Now that everyone has their attention on the Panthers, they will head to Coral Gables next weekend to take on the Hurricanes. Can Pittsburgh win their fifth straight series?
Virginia on the other hand, has now lost two straight ACC series after winning their first four to begin the season. Coach Brian O’Connor will have his hands full against North Carolina and Virginia Tech over the next two weekends.
No. 26 Florida State Dominates No. 13 Louisville, Sweeps Series
It is no secret that Parker Messick and Bryce Hubbart make up one of the best duos in the country, but no one expected them to shut down the Cardinals in the manner they did. Facing one of the best offenses in the country, the two Florida State starters put this series on their shoulders after losing to Georgia Tech and Notre Dame in the two previous weekends.
Messick and Hubbart combined for 12.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, one run, and striking out 20 batters. Both pitchers picked up a win and never gave the Louisville offense a glimmer of hope to make a threat.
Louisville still sits atop the division, but they do not have near as much breathing room after taking three losses. The road does not get any easier for the Cardinals as they welcome North Carolina State next weekend.
The Seminoles have entered themselves back in the conversation to claim the ACC Atlantic Division. They are currently one of four teams with nine or ten wins. Florida State has four conference series left with three of them coming on the road. If Messick and Hubbart continue to throw the way they did this weekend, it won’t matter where they play.
No. 27 Virginia Tech Upsets No. 2 Miami
If the Hokies did not have your attention prior to this weekend, they should now. This team is legit. In the upset of the Hurricanes, Virginia Tech lit up the scoreboard with 30 runs and 39 hits, taking the first two games of the series.
The top three hitters in the Hokies lineup, Nick Biddison, Gavin Cross, and Tanner Schobel, combined for 21 hits, 14 RBI, and four home runs in the series. When you have that type of production from the top of your lineup, you are going to win a lot of games.
After winning nine consecutive ACC games, the Hurricanes will host Pittsburgh next weekend as they try to get back on track. Even with the series loss, Miami still holds a four game lead in the Coastal Division. Nowhere near time to panic in Coral Gables — the Hurricanes will be just fine.
No. 49 Clemson Takes Series from No. 18 Wake Forest on the Road
The Tigers bounced back after losing five straight ACC games by taking the series from Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. The opening game on Friday saw nine hits combined and one single run, which came in the 9th inning.
Clemson loaded the bases and scored the lone run on a sac-fly off the bat of Tyler Corbitt to pick up the opening game win. Mack Anglin and Geoffrey Gilbert teamed up for the shutout for the Tigers, surrendering just four hits for the game.
On Saturday, the teams combined for 27 hits and 21 runs in a 10 inning thriller. With two runners on base in the bottom of the 10th, Michael Turconi belted a three-run home run to force the rubber match on Easter Sunday.
With first place in the Atlantic Division on the line for Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons came up short as the Tigers took the game and the series, 10-8. The finale on Sunday saw nine home runs, five by Clemson, who were led by Caden Grice with two.
Wake Forest will travel to South Bend next weekend to take on Notre Dame in a series with major Atlantic Division implications.
No. 23 Georgia Tech Powers Past No. 31 North Carolina
The Yellow Jackets belted 10 home runs this weekend, scoring 31 runs to win the series against a Tar Heels team that was in desperate need of a series win. Six different Georgia Tech batters hit a home run in the series.
Kevin Parada and Tim Borden both chipped in with three home runs a piece, each hitting a grand slam on Sunday to secure the series. Borden launched two bombs during the rubber match and ultimately hit the game winning grand slam in the top of the 9th inning.
After losing three ACC series in a row, the Yellow Jackets have found their stride, winning their last two series against North Carolina and Florida State. Georgia Tech will get Duke next weekend, who is coming off a sweep of Notre Dame.
North Carolina is trending in the wrong direction after a scorching start to begin the season. The Tar Heels are 4-11 in their last 15 games after starting 18-3. There is plenty of season left, but the road does not get any easier as they travel to Virginia and North Carolina State over the next two weekends.
No. 32 North Carolina State Sweeps Boston College
The Wolfpack did not have their best stuff over the weekend but were fortunate enough to pull off the sweep against a struggling Boston College team. North Carolina State won two of the games by one run, before taking the finale 6-3.
The Eagles outhit the Wolfpack in two of the three games but waited all weekend long for that big hit to open the floodgates, and it never came. It took the final at bat in each of the first two games in order for the Wolfpack to claim the victory, both of which came via unearned runs.
With the sweep, North Carolina State is within striking distance of Louisville for first place in the Atlantic Division. Just who do the Wolfpack play this weekend? Louisville. Go ahead and grab a chair, it is going to be another exciting weekend in the ACC.
Thanks for stopping by! Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram to keep up with all of our content!