This conference never seems to disappoint. Week in, and week out, we are witnessing baseball that is being played at the highest level. Outside of Miami, the rest of the conference continues to beat up on each other. Six teams currently have seven wins as we are approaching the half-way point of conference play. Get your popcorn ready, because it’s going to be a heck of a ride over the next month and a half.
Miami Sweeps Virginia in Top Five Matchup
The headliner of the weekend was a much anticipated series between the Hurricanes and Cavaliers, who entered the weekend first and second in the Coastal Division. They still sit atop the division, but the separation is much greater as Miami takes a four game lead over Virginia.
The Hurricanes have now swept three straight conference series after allowing just 9 earned runs to one of the best offenses in the country.
On Friday night, Carson Palmquist (W, 6-1) tossed six innings, allowing zero earned runs and struck out eight batters to set the tone for the weekend.
Miami pounded out seven home runs, led by Yohandy Morales who chipped in with two of his own, scoring five runs and compiling four RBI.
Miami heads to Blacksburg next weekend to take on a hot Virginia Tech team that just won the series against No. 21 North Carolina State.
Extra Innings Fuel No. 15 Louisville Over No. 22 North Carolina
The Tar Heels took command early on Friday night, taking the first game of the series 13-9, but the Cardinals bounced back and won the next two games, both in extra innings, to claim the series.
Ben Metzinger hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning on Saturday to force the rubber match on Sunday, which was action packed.
In the top of the 6th inning with North Carolina commanding a 5-1 lead, the game was delayed as a bomb threat was called in to the stadium. After the threat was cleared, Louisville responded with four runs in the bottom of the 9th to force extra innings for the second consecutive day.
A walk-off single in the bottom of the 14th proved to be the winner for the Cardinals, who bounced back after losing their series to Pittsburgh a week ago.
North Carolina is trending in the wrong direction, dropping seven of their last nine ACC games after starting 5-1 in conference play. They will host Georgia Tech in a big matchup next weekend in Chapel Hill.
No. 9 Notre Dame Sweeps No. 39 Clemson
After losing four straight conference games, the Fighting Irish have put together two consecutive sweeps against Florida State and Clemson, putting them just a game behind Louisville in the Atlantic Division.
The Notre Dame weekend rotation, made up of John Michael Bertrand, Austin Temple, and Will Mercer, kept the Tigers bats quiet all weekend. Clemson scored just three earned runs and recorded 17 hits all weekend long.
All three earned runs were allowed by the bullpen over 10.1 innings of work. Link Jarrett has to feel good about the direction of his pitching staff at this point of the season.
Carter Putz led the Notre Dame offense with six hits, one home run, and eight RBI, which is double the amount Clemson had all weekend.
No. 33 Georgia Tech Upsets No. 12 Florida State, Seminole Continue to Tumble
This Georgia Tech team has been Jekyll and Hyde all year long, you never know who is going to show up when they take the field. Fortunately for Yellow Jackets fans, they showed up and took care of business this weekend against the visiting Seminoles.
After splitting the first two games of the series, the rubber match on Sunday was all Georgia Tech. Skipper Danny Hall had his team ready to play, dominating the finale 10-0.
Kevin Parada continues to put up ridiculous numbers, adding seven hits, seven RBI, and three home runs this weekend. Parada is now batting .390 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI for the season.
The Seminoles are trending in the wrong direction, dropping six of their last seven ACC games and seven of their last nine overall. Mike Martin Jr. and Co. do not have much time to regroup as they host Florida for a midweek tilt before Louisville comes to town next weekend.
No. 40 Virginia Tech Continues to Climb
Is this Hokie team fun or what? Virginia Tech has now won three of their four conference series after taking two games from No. 21 North Carolina State.
The Hokies can score runs in bunches, amassing 32 runs over the weekend, compiling 35 hits, including 11 home runs by five different batters. The two top batting averages in the conference, Jack Hurley and Cade Hunter, both play for Virginia Tech. Not to mention, Gavin Cross, one of the high rated draft prospects in the conference, chipped in with two home runs and six RBI of his own.
Just how good is this offense? We will soon find out as the Hokies host Miami for a three game series starting Thursday night in Blacksburg.
The Wolfpack salvaged the series by avoiding a sweep on Sunday, but they will need to get back on track next weekend as they host Boston College.
Pittsburgh Wins Third Consecutive Series
The Panthers were the only ACC team to win a series on the road this weekend, taking two games from Boston College in Brighton, Mass. Pittsburgh has now beaten Clemson, Louisville, and Boston College three weeks in a row after starting 1-5 in conference play.
Matt Gilbertson picked up another victory on Friday night, improving to 5-2 on the season. He threw seven innings, giving up just three runs.
Going for the series win on Saturday, the Panthers entered the 9th inning, down 9-4. With a little help from two errors and a walk by Boston College, Pittsburgh made it interesting until the final pitch, but the Eagles pulled it out 9-8.
The rubber match on Sunday was also a nail-biter down to the final inning, but the Panthers prevailed to win the series with a 10-9 victory. Billy Cochran picked up his fourth victory, recording another quality start.
Pittsburgh will be tested yet again next weekend, facing Virginia who is coming off a sweep to Miami.
No. 23 Wake Forest Sweeps Duke
The Demon Deacons, who were picked to finish 6th place in the Atlantic Division, are putting together quite an impressive resume. They improved to 9-6 in the ACC and 25-7 overall after sweeping the Blue Devils this weekend.
Rhett Lowder continues to dominate, tossing seven innings of two-run baseball on Friday to pick up the victory for Wake Forest. Lowder is now 7-1 on the season with a 2.30 ERA. He is 4-1 in conference play with his lone loss coming at the hands of Virginia.
The road gets more challenging in the next few weeks as the Demon Deacons face Clemson, Notre Dame, and Louisville in their next three weekend series. If they win two of those series, look for Wake Forest to hear their name called on Selection Monday.
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