By Andrew Kube
Week 6 of ACC Play offered up one of the season's biggest series, paired with an intense weekend across the conference that has seen a shift in the conference standings. Let's recap the weekend!
22 Stanford vs Virginia
Getting the weekend started in Charlottesville, Virginia for a matchup between two teams coming off of getting swept. Virginia found their bats this weekend, something that seemed to be pretty inconsistent entering the weekend. Virginia sweeps Stanford (11-8,13-7,9-8) to get back to .500 in conference play. Virginia had success late in games this weekend, and that's something we haven't seen much from the Hoos this season.
Stanford's pitching struggled this weekend and has now allowed 6+ runs in all but three conference games this season, and it won't get any better as they take on Georgia Tech AND Clemson for the next two weekends. Stanford falls now to 5-7 in ACC play and has lost SIX straight conference games. This was a HUGE series for the Hoos, as Virginia went from a 142nd RPI to 88th in the RPI and firmly put them back in the NCAA Tournament discussion.
Pittsburgh vs Boston College
Friday's action began with a doubleheader in Chesnut Hill as we got treated to 22 innings of baseball up north. Ryan Zuckerman got the action started with a 3-run home run on Friday, as Pitt took game one of the series (9-8), thanks to an 8th-inning rally.
Boston College would fight back and win game two (6-5), of the series and the day with a 13-inning walk-off, thanks to an Adam Magpoc walk-off double, setting up a rubber match for the series on Sunday! Luke Cantwell got the scoring started on Sunday with a 2-run home run, but it would be Boston College winning this one (3-2), and winning the weekend with another walk-off win! Boston College improves to 5-7 in ACC play, while Pitt stumbles to 3-6 in ACC play.
4 Florida State vs Notre Dame
The "Link Jarrett" series took place in South Bend this weekend, as we got a matchup between the top and the bottom teams in the ACC. Notre Dame would take game one (16-9), and put the 4th ranked Noles on the brink of an upset weekend, with a five-run 6th inning, and an eight-run 8th inning.
The ball was flying in game one, as we saw 13 home runs between the two teams, including a two-homer day for Florida State freshman first baseman Myles Bailey. Games two and three of the series would be played as a doubleheader on Sunday, which saw the Seminoles take both games (4-2,17-9) behind a complete game (7 innings), 11 strikeout performance from Joey Volini in game one. Game two of the doubleheader saw the Seminoles jump out to a 12-0 lead after two innings, behind home runs from Max Williams, Alex Lodise, and redshirt freshman James Hankerson Jr. Florida State wins another series and improves to 7-2 in the ACC, while Notre Dame falls to 2-10 in the ACC.
Virginia Tech vs 14 Wake Forest
A series that I was interested to see play out turned into a runaway series for the Hokies. Entering the weekend, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest were two of the best offenses in the ACC. Virginia Tech showed that early in this series, with a nine-run first inning on Friday night, leading to a 13-2 7-inning run-rule victory over the Deacs. Tech went on to sweep Wake (13-2,11-8,6-5) behind timely hitting and pitching that was able to keep a potent Deacons lineup at bay.
Pitching has been the issue during these last two weekend losses for Wake Forest. After Saturday's loss, Wake Forest coach Tom Walter said, "When you're going to your bullpen in the first inning of your Friday game and the third inning of your Saturday game, that's a hard spot to be in." Walter added on Saturday: "Playing from behind all weekend so far, it's so hard to play from behind in this league." Walter also mentioned Saturday that LHP Matthew Dallas would likely be moved out of the rotation and that it would be freshman Chris Levonas taking Dallas' spot when Wake travels to Chapel Hill a couple of weekends from now.
The Hokies stay hot and have now won five straight games, including a 6-1 stretch in their last 7 ACC games and series wins against ranked teams (#19 Louisville, #14 Wake Forest) Both teams are now 7-5 in the ACC, and Virginia Tech has firmly put themselves in the NCAA Tournament talks!
Miami vs 18 North Carolina
Two teams in need of a big series saw the Heels pitching outmatch the Hurricanes bats, winning the series (2-0,4-2,2-4). A pitcher's duel in game one had Griffin Hugus (MIA) going a complete eight innings, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out four, a phenomenal start from the Hurricanes righty. But, Jake Knapp outdueled Hugus, as he went seven innings, allowing no runs on just five hits, and striking out ten. Walker McDuffie would closed it out, pitching two innings in relief and striking out four. UNC improves to 6-6 in ACC play, while Miami falls to 2-7 in ACC play. If they weren't already, the Miami NCAA Tournament hopes are growing dim.
California vs 19 Louisville
Cal traveled to Louisville, coming off of a sweep vs rival Stanford. This series was the complete opposite of the Miami-North Carolina series, as Louisville would win the series (11-10,10-14,13-6). The Cardinals walked off game one of the series after leading 9-2 following the 5th inning. Cal scored four runs in the 7th and 9th innings to take the lead before some timely hitting late by the Cardinals, led by Lucas Moore and Jake Munroe in the 9th inning. Cal allowed just 12 runs all series in Palo Alto against Stanford before this series in Louisville. Louisville improves to 5-4 in ACC play, Cal drops to 6-6 in ACC play after this one.
5 Clemson vs 25 Georgia Tech
Russ Chandler Stadium was the place to be this weekend, as we were treated to a Top-25 matchup between two of the hottest teams in the ACC. Clemson out-slugged the Yellow Jackets en route to a 9-7 win to begin the series. Jacob Jarrell was the hero in this one for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with two home runs in this one.
Mason Patel (GT) was touched up and allowed four runs over four innings of work out of the bullpen. A doubleheader on Saturday concluded the series, but not before some high-intensity baseball. Georgia Tech destroyed Clemson 18-2 in game one, as Kyle Lodise went 4-for 6 with two home runs to give him 12 on the season. It was a 3-4 day for John Giesler, hitting his first home run of the season and plating four RBI.
Game two would be an intense one, as star Drew Burress gave the Yellow Jackets a lead going to the 9th with a two-run home run. But, you cannot count out these Tigers, as they plated two in the 9th to retake the lead and win 4-3. Clemson takes two of three on the road in Atlanta and improves to 6-3 in the ACC, while Georgia Tech falls to 8-4. Both of these teams have high hopes, and deserve, to host a regional this year.
NC State vs Duke
When the season began, both of these teams had high hopes for a big season, but it did not start too well for either team, as they both entered ACC play sitting around .500 on the season. This series featured a ton of runs, as Duke takes the series between two in-state rivals (5-1,6-14,16-6), a big W after sweeping Virginia on the road. Duke now sits tied for 4th in the ACC with a 7-5 record, while NC State falls to 5-4 ACC. A total team effort from the Blue Devil lineup has the Blue Devils rolling into next weekend's road matchup in Chapel Hill against fierce rival North Carolina. NC State will host Virginia next weekend.
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