The College Baseball Blog continues our series of conference weekend previews with the ACC. The conference enters the second weekend of play with Boston College leading the Atlantic Division with a 2-1 overall record after being the only team in the division to win their series. The Coastal Division sees Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Miami (FL) all tied with 3-0 records.
Boston College at #8 Georgia Tech
The Boston College Eagles head down to Atlanta GA to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second weekend of ACC action.
The Eagles enter this weekend unranked in the NCBWA poll but are listed as others receiving votes. They have an overall record of 10-3 and 2-1 in the ACC after playing Florida State last weekend in Tallahassee. The top hitter for the Eagles this season has been Tony Sanchez (TCBB 48th best player) as he is hitting .455 with four homers and 19 RBI. Robbie Anston has been setting the table for the Eagles offense as he is hitting .431 with an on base percentage of .493 with three stolen bases in four attempts. The top starting pitcher this season has been J.B. McDonald who is 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA while holding his opponents to a .197 batting average against.
Georgia Tech comes into this weekend with the number 8 ranking in the NCBWA poll. They have a 11-1 overall record and a perfect 3-0 in the ACC after sweeping the Maryland Terrapins last weekend. The top hitter for Georgia Tech is Luke Murton who is hitting .409 and catcher Jason Haniger is right on his tail with a .405 average with two homers and 12 RBI. The pitching staff has been outstanding this season which has a team ERA of 3.20. They are led by Deck McGuire who is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA. Mark Pope is the only pitcher on the staff with a save as he has four on the season.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: RHP Deck McGuire (3-0, 0.42) vs. RHP JB MacDonald (1-1, 2.37)
Saturday: RHP Zach Von Tersch (3-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Pat Dean (2-1, 5.29)
Sunday: RHP Brandon Cumpton (0-0, 4.50) vs. RHP Mike Dennhardt (2-0, 8.16)
Brian’s Prediction: GT takes two out of three games.
Vu’s Prediction: The Yellow Jackets sweep the Eagles.
Boston College Game Notes
Georgia Tech Game Notes
#2 North Carolina at Virginia Tech
The number 2 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels head on the road for the first time all season as they head up to Blackburg VA to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies.
North Carolina has an overall record of 12-2 while being 2-1 in the ACC after playing their opening series against the Clemson Tigers. They are led on offense by Kyle Seager and Ben Bunting. Seager is hitting .472 with 14 RBI while Bunting is hitting .429 with a homer and 13 RBI. All-American candiate Dustin Ackley is third on the squad with a .385 average and three homers on the year. The strength of the Tar Heels squad has always been their pitching staff and this year is no different. Adam Warren leads the squad with a 3-0 record and a 0.98 ERA in his three starts. Matt Harvey is also 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA but number 1 starter Alex White has struggled in the early going with a 2-0 record and a 4.15 ERA.
Virginia Tech enters this weekend unranked as they have a record of 10-4 while being 1-2 in the ACC after losing the series to Duke. Virginia Tech is led on offense by Steve Domecus who is hitting .429 with three homers and 19 RBI. Klint Reed has been outstanding in his 12 games (seven starts) as he sports a .400 average with six RBI. The best pitcher for the Hokies has been Rhett Ballard who is 3-0 in his three starts with an ERA of 2.60.
Probable Starters
Friday 3 p.m. Alex White, RHP (Jr., 2-0, 4.15) vs. Rhett Ballard, RHP (Sr., 3-0, 2.60)
Saturday 2 p.m. Adam Warren, RHP (Sr., 2-0, 0.98) vs. Justin Wright, LHP (So., 1-0, 5.52)
Sunday 1 p.m. Matt Harvey, RHP (So., 3-0, 2.25) vs. Mathew Price, RHP (Fr., 1-1, 3.75)
Brian’s Prediction: UNC takes two out of three games.
Vu’s Prediction: The Tar Heels sweep the Hokies.
UNC Series Notes
Virginia Tech Series Notes
Duke at # 7 Miami (FL)
The Duke Blue Devils head on the road to take on the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in Coral Gables in ACC action.
The Duke Blue Devils head into the weekend with a 9-4 overall record and 2-1 in ACC play after winning the series against Virginia Tech last weekend. They are led by the Jeremy Gould who is hitting .439 with a homer and 13 RBI. Alex Hassan is second on the squad with a .415 average with two homers and nine RBI. Nate Freiman leads the team in homers with four and in RBI with 14 RBI. He isn’t doing bad with a batting average of .341. The top starting pitcher this season for the Blue Devils has been Andrew Wolcott who is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA. Alex Hassan leads the bullpen with a 1-0 record with four saves and an ERA of 1.69.
The Miami Hurricanes enter the weekend with a record of 12-2 while being a perfect 3-0 in the ACC after sweeping NC State last weekend. They enter the weekend with a six game winning streak and victors in 10 of their last 11 games. They are led on offense by Dave DiNatale who is hitting .362 on the year with three homers and 11 RBI. Harold Martinez is second on the squad with a .358 average with two homers and 15 RBI. The top starting pitcher early in the season has been David Gutierrez who is 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA in his three starts. Kyle Bellamy has been serving as the team’s closer this season as he hasn’t allowed an earned run in his seven appearances where he has recorded a 1-0 record with four saves.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UM LHP Chris Hernandez (2-0, 4.24 ERA) vs. DU LHP Christopher Manno (1-2, 6.19 ERA)
Saturday: UM RHP David Gutierrez (2-0, 0.50 ERA) vs. DU RHP Andrew Wolcott (2-0, 1.71 ERA)
Sunday: UM LHP Iden Nazario (2-0, 7.62 ERA) vs. DU – RHP Ryan Knott (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: Miami (FL) sweeps Duke
Vu’s Prediction: The Hurricanes sweep the Blue Devils.
Duke Series Notes
Miami (FL) Series Notes
#14 Florida State at #26 Virginia
The Florida State Seminoles head on the road for their first ACC road series against the Virginia Cavaliers in a matchup between two ranked squads.
Florida State enter the weekend set with a 9-5 overall record and 1-2 in the ACC after losing a series to the Boston College Eagles. The Seminoles got back on the winning track with two mid-week victories over High Point. The Seminoles offense has struggled in the early portion of the season but Tyler Holt has been the exception. Holt enters the weekend with a .474 average while picking up a homer and nine RBI. The starting rotation for the Seminoles was demolished last weekend by Boston College which led the FSU coaching staff to change it up. Sean Gilmartin was the only pitcher that had any success last weekend as he has an overall record of 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his three starts. Jimmy Marshall has recorded all three saves for the Seminoles while having an ERA of 4.76.
The Virginia Cavaliers enter the weekend on a roll since opening day with a perfect record of 14-0 and 3-0 in the ACC after they swept Wake Forest last weekend. The top hitter for the Cavs has been Dan Grovatt who is hitting at a .491 clip with two homers and 18 RBI. The Cavaliers pitching staff has an ERA of 1.93 which is led by freshman Danny Hultzen who is 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: FSU LHP Sean Gilmartin (3-0, 2.14 ERA) vs UVA LHP Danny Hultzen (3-0, 0.95 ERA)
Saturday: FSU LHP Brian Busch (0-1, 3.06 ERA) vs UVA RHP Andrew Carraway (3-0, 1.47 ERA)
Sunday: FSU RHP Mike McGee (1-1, 4.85 ERA) vs UVA RHP Will Roberts (2-0, 2.40 ERA)
Brian’s Prediction: UVA takes two out of three games
Vu’s Prediction: The Seminoles win two on the road.
FSU Series Notes
UVA Series Notes
Wake Forest at #21 Clemson
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons head down to South Carolina to take on the Clemson Tigers in the second weekend of ACC action.
Wake Forest enters the weekend with a 7-5 overall record and a record of 0-3 in the ACC after being swept by Virginia. Wake Forest is led on offense by Weldon Woodall who has a .447 average with two homers and 14 RBI. Carlos Lopez is also hitting .425 with a conference leading seven homers while having 17 RBI. The Demon Deacons pitching staff has been the weakness of the squad as they have a team ERA of 6.58. Brad Kledzik is the most experienced pitcher on the staff as he has a 1-2 record with an ERA of 8.03.
Clemson enters the weekend with an overall record of 8-4 while dropping two out of three in the opening ACC series with North Carolina. The Clemson Tigers top offensive player this season has been Ben Paulsen who is hitting .408 on the year. The top starting pitcher for the Tigers is Freshman LHP Chris Dwyer who is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his first three starts of his career.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: WF RHP Brad Kledzik (Sr., 1-2, 8.03) vs. CU RHP Trey Delk (R-Sr., 1-0, 3.75)
Saturday: WF TBA vs. CU LHP Chris Dwyer (Fr., 1-0, 1.72)
Sunday: WF RHP Phil Negus (Jr., 1-0, 4.76) vs. CU TBA
Brian’s Prediction: Clemson sweeps the series.
Vu’s Prediction: The Tigers sweep the Deacs.
Wake Forest Series Notes
Clemson Series Notes
Maryland at NC State
The Maryland Terps head down to Raleigh North Carolina to take on the NC State Wolfpack for the second ACC series for the two schools.
The Maryland Terrapins enter the weekend with a 6-7 overall record and 0-3 in the ACC. They are led on offense by Gerry Spessard who is hitting .368 with a homer and 13 RBI on the year. The Maryland pitching staff has a staff ERA of 5.67 which is led by Matt Fullerton who is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA.
NC State enters the weekend with an overall record of 8-6 and 0-3 in ACC play. The NC State offense has a batting average of .273 which is led by Drew Martin who is hitting .308. The top starting pitcher for the Wolfpack is Jimmy Gillheeney who has a record of 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: MD LHP Matt Fullerton vs NC State LHP Jimmy Gillheeney
Saturday: MD RHP Scott Swinson vs NC State RHP Jake Buchanan
Sunday: MD LHP Eric Potter vs NC State LHP Alex Sogard
Brian’s Prediction: NC State sweeps Maryland
Vu’s Prediction: NC State takes two at home.
Maryland Series Notes
NC State Series Notes
