Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
#10 Georgia Tech enters the game coming off back-to-back victories over ranked teams (Sunday vs. #3 North Carolina and Wednesday vs. #11 Georgia). They host #1 Miami, which struggled in two mid-week games this week — Florida Gulf Coast took the Hurricanes to extra innings on Tuesday and Florida Atlantic upset the Hurricanes on Wednesday.
For the Yellow Jackets, junior Luke Murton has found his stroke, batting .477 with 15 RBI over the last 16 games and improving his batting average to a team high .352. Freshman shortstop Derek Dietrich has a .347 average with 10 homers and 33 RBI, and junior Charlie Blackmon is batting .344 with 23 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Tech’s weekend starters have a combined 12-4 record with a 3.15 ERA; their top three relievers (Andrew Robinson, Brad Rulon and Chris Hicks) combined for 49 appearances, 12 saves, and a 3.47 ERA.
For the Hurricanes, head coach Jim Morris returns to Georgia Tech where he coached from 1982 to 1993. Miami has one of the top offenses in the nation, batting .336 with 45 home runs as a team. Junior 2B Jemile Weeks leads the team with a .387 batting average, 7 home runs, and 35 RBI. All 9 members of their regular batting order are batting .311 or better. On the mound, the Hurricanes are allowing opponents to bat just .228 with a 3.55 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UM LHP Chris Hernandez (4-0, 2.54) vs. GT LHP David Duncan (4-1, 3.94)
Saturday: UM RHP Enrique Garcia (1-0, 6.00) vs. GT RHP Eddie Burns (4-2, 3.10)
Sunday: UM TBA vs. GT RHP Zach Von Tersch (4-1, 2.29)
Vu’s Prediction: Georgia Tech takes 2 out of 3 from Miami.
B. Foley’s Prediction: Miami (FL) takes 2 out of 3.
Florida State at Boston College
Florida State makes the long road trip up to Chestnut Hill to take on the Boston College Eagles in an ACC series this weekend. The Seminoles come into the series as the number 2 team in the country sporting a record of 28-3 and 14-1 in the ACC. They are already up five games in the loss column over NC State in the Atlanic Division. The Seminoles are led by All-American catcher Buster Posey who has a batting average of .458 with nine homers while playing every game. Jack Rye is the second leading hitter with a .382 average while recovering from an early season injury. Freshman pitcher Matt Fairel has become one of the best pitchers in the conference with a 7-0 record with a 1.72 ERA. The weekend rotation is filled out by Geoff Parker (2-1, 2.38 ERA) and Elih Villanueva (3-0, 3.77 ERA). Buster Posey has served as the team’s closer with five appearances with four saves without allowing a run.
Boston College enters on a seven game winning streak with an overall record of 18-14. They are led by Tony Sanchez and Eric Campbell on offense. Sanchez leads the team in hitting with a .349 average and has seven long balls on the year. Campbell is second on the team with a .344 average. Matt Hamlet and Barry Butera are also hitting above .300 respectively. The Boston College pitching staff is led by Senior Terry Doyle who looked solid against Duke last week to put his season record at 3-3 with a 6.55 ERA. Dan Houston who has turned it around lately for the Eagles will pitch in the number 2 spot this weekend sporting the best ERA out of the starters at 4.46. James McDonald will fill out the rotation with his 3-4 record and 5.19 ERA.
Probable Starters
Friday Game 1: FSU LHP, Matt Fairel (7-0) vs. BC RHP, Terry Doyle (3-3)
Friday Game 2: FSU RHP, Geoff Parker (2-1) vs. BC RHP, Dan Houston (2-1)
Saturday: FSU RHP, Elih Villanueva (3-0) vs. BC RHP – James MacDonald (3-4)
Vu’s Prediction: The Seminoles sweep BC
B. Foley’s Prediction: FSU continues to roll as they sweep the Eagles.
FSU Game Notes
BC Season Stats
UNC at Clemson
The North Carolina Tar Heels head to Clemson SC to take on the Tigers in a three game series this weekend. North Carolina comes into the series ranked fourth in the nation with a 26-7 record while being 10-4 in the ACC. The Tar Heels are led by sophomore sensations Dustin Ackley and Tim Fedroff. Ackley was the consensus freshman of the year last season and has continued with his strong play as he is third on the team with a .368 average. Tim Fedroff leads the team in hitting with a .412 average. North Carolina freshman Matt Harvey has become a rock in the rotation with a 4-2 record with a 1.78 ERA. He is joined in the rotation by Adam Warren (5-0, 4.50 ERA) and Alex White (5-2, 1.93 ERA).
The Clemson Tigers have a 18-14 record while being 6-9 in the ACC. Clemson’s top hitter is Ben Paulsen who has a .354 average in 31 games. The Clemson pitching staff is led by D.J. Mitchell who is 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA. The rotation is rounded out by Graham Stoneburner who is 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA and Ryan Hinson who is 2-4 with 5.01 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UNC Alex White, RHP (So., 5-2, 1.93) vs CU D.J. Mitchell (Jr., 3-2, 2.98)
Saturday: UNC Adam Warren, RHP (Jr., 5-0, 4.50) vs CU Graham Stoneburner, RHP (RS Fr., 4-0, 3.29)
Sunday: UNC Matt Harvey, RHP (Fr., 4-2, 1.78) vs CU Ryan Hinson, LHP (Jr., 2-4, 5.01)
Vu’s Prediction: Carolina wins 2 of 3 at Clemson.
B. Foley’s Prediction: UNC sweeps the Tigers
UNC Game Notes
Clemson Game Notes
UVA at Maryland
Virginia heads to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins. Virginia enters with a 26-9 overall record and an 8-7 mark in the ACC. They are led by All-American pitcher Jacob Thompson who lost last weekend to FSU to drop his record to 4-1 with a 3.59 ERA. His stats are slightly inflated based on his poor start against FSU. Pat McAnaney who is 3-1 with a 1.61 ERA and Andrew Carraway who is 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA to round out the weekend rotation.
Maryland enters with a 20-14 overall record and 5-10 in the ACC. Nick Jowers is the top hitter for the Terps with a .379 average. Scott Swinson has been the top starter for the Terps with a 3-3 record and a 4.40 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: TBA
Saturday: TBA
Sunday: TBA
Vu’s Prediction: The Terrapins steal one at home from Virginia.
B. Foley’s Prediction: UVA sweeps UMD impressively.
Duke at NC State
The Duke Blue Devils enter the weekend after getting swept last weekend by Boston College which hurt the Devils chances of making the ACC Tourney. The Devils have an overall record of 22-10 while going 4-10 in the ACC. They are led by sophomore Alexander Hassan who has a team high batting average of .385 while fellow sophomore Jeremy Gould leads the team with 29 RBI. Andrew Wolcott looks to get back into a groove this weekend after losing his start to Boston College last weekend as he is 2-2 on the year.
The NC State Wolfpack have an overall record of 21-10 and 8-6 record in the ACC. Clayton Shunick has stepped into the number 1 starter role with a 3-3 record and 2.13 ERA. The top hitter for the Wolfpack is Jeremy Synan who is batting .345 on the year.
Probable Starters
Friday: NC State Clayton Shunick (3-3, 2.13) vs DU Andrew Wolcott (2-2, 3.12)
Saturday: NC State Eric Surkamp (2-2, 5.29) vs DU Dennis O’Grady (3-0, 0.48)
Sunday: NC State Eryk McConnell (4-1, 4.33) vs DU Grant Monroe (4-2, 4.99)
Vu’s Prediction: NC State wins 2 out of 3 against Duke.
B. Foley’s Prediction: NC State sweeps Duke to continue the Blue Devils conference problems.
Duke Game Notes
NC State Game Notes
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest
The Virginia Tech Hokies enter the weekend with a 13-20 overall record with a 1-14 record in the conference. The top hitter for the Hokies is Austin Wates who is batting .333 in 31 games. Jose Cueto is second on the squad with a .327 average. The top starting pitcher this season has been Jesse Hahn who is 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA.
Wake Forest enters the weekend with a 12-19 overall record and 5-9 in the ACC. The Wake Forest pitching staff this season has been the biggest weakness as they have a staff ERA of 8.46. The Deacons top pitcher this season has been Garrett Bullock who is 3-2 with a 5.73 ERA. The top hitter for the Deacons is Dustin Hood who is hitting .331 on the year while All-American preseason candidate Allan Dykstra has struggled as he has a .301 average on the year.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: LHP Garrett Bullock (3-2, 5.73) vs. RHP Rhett Ballard (1-3, 4.83)
Saturday: RHP Charlie Mellies (0-3, 5.83) vs. LHP Andrew Wells (0-3, 5.96)
Sunday: RHP Ben Hunter (1-5, 6.96) vs. TBA
Vu’s Prediction: Virginia Tech steals one from Wake Forest.
B. Foley’s Prediction: VT takes two out of three games.
VT Game Notes
Wake Forest Game Notes
Thanks to Vu Pham for helping out with some of the Recaps again. Hopefully we can make this a tradition.
