Nate Freiman (Courtesy of Duke Media Relations)
Here is your ACC Recap for March 22nd.
Duke 10 #1 UNC 9
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Nate Freiman and Jeremy Gould each drove in three runs, and Will Piwnica-Worms mashed his first career home run to lead Duke to a 10-9 win and a series victory over No. 1 North Carolina Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
Freiman and Gould each went 2-for-5 and combined for five RBI as part of a seven-run second inning for Duke (14-7, 5-4 ACC). Piwnica-Worms knocked out three hits and scored twice while accounting for the other two runs in Duke’s big second inning with his first career home run. Senior Tim Sherlock also launched his second homer of the series in the fifth inning, which put Duke on top 9-1 at the time.
The Blue Devils knocked 15 hits in the game and never trailed, thanks to the efforts of starting pitcher Ryan Knott (2-0) and a quartet of relievers, including closer Alex Hassan, who locked up his second save of the series. Knott went a career-long 5.1 innings in his third career ACC start and held the Tar Heels (17-4, 5-3 ACC) to just one run over his first five innings. He was pulled in the sixth and gave way to relievers Dennis O’Grady, Michael Ness and Eric Pfisterer, who, despite a late rally by North Carolina that saw the Tar Heels put up eight runs from the sixth through eighth inning, kept Duke on top until Hassan got the final three outs in the ninth inning. With the win, Duke brings in one point in the Carlyle Cup standings, cutting North Carolina’s lead to 11.5 to 6.5. The series win over North Carolina (17-4, 5-3 ACC) is the first for Duke since 2001.
#4 Miami (FL) 7 #21 Virginia 5
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The fourth-ranked University of Miami baseball team won its fifth straight series to open the 2009 season with a 7-5 win over No. 7 Virginia in eight innings Sunday afternoon at Davenport Field.
With Virginia leading 5-4 after seven, Miami (18-4, 7-2 ACC) mounted its second late comeback in as many days, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth to take a two-run lead. After tying it up at five, Dave DiNatale scored the go-ahead run for the `Canes on a Jonathan Weislow double over John Barr’s head in left, securing the game and series for UM.
The three-hour, 36-minute contest was called after the eight innings due to Atlantic Coast Conference travel policy.
Miami (FL) Recap
Virginia Recap
#5 Georgia Tech 18 Virginia Tech 8
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Kevin Jacob worked 4-1/3 shutout innings while Matt Skole and Tony Plagman paced the offense with four hits apiece to lead No. 3 Georgia Tech (16-2, 6-1 ACC) to a 18-8 win over Virginia Tech (13-8, 2-6 ACC) Sunday afternoon at English Field.
With the victory, the Yellow Jackets won their sixth-consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference series, including three-straight to end the 2008 season.
Virginia Tech scored six runs over the first three innings, but Jacob (4-0) came on to hold the Hokies scoreless over the next 4-1/3 innings to earn his fourth win of the season. The sophomore right hander limited Virginia Tech to two hits while striking out five and walking only one in the game.
#17 Florida State 7 #16 Clemson 4
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a back and forth contest that featured two ties and five lead changes, the last lead on Sunday belonged to the Seminoles as Mike McGee launched a walk-off, three-run blast in the bottom of the ninth to give 17th-ranked Florida State (11-8, 3-4 ACC) a 7-4 victory over 16th-ranked Clemson (14-6, 5-4 ACC). The win secured the first ACC series victory for Florida State in 2009, while bringing the Seminoles within a game of Boston College for the Atlantic Division lead.
The home run capped off an incredible game for the Port St. Lucie, Fla., native as McGee finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. The ninth inning home run was his second of the game marking his first career multi-home run game. The play also goes down as McGee’s first career walk-off hit.
“I don’t care if it is only close to the 20th game of the year, that was a big win for our baseball program,” head coach Mike Martin said. “Believe me that was huge.”
Boston College 5 Maryland 2
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Sophomore Kevin Moran worked 4.2 innings of relief and allowed four hits to earn the win on Sunday as the Boston College baseball team beat Maryland, 5-2, to take the series at Shipley Field.
It was the second-straight solid outing for Moran out of the bullpen who improved to 2-0 on the year. In a 6-5 win at Northeastern earlier in the week, he worked a career-high 6.0 innings and allowed just two hits. Junior Mike Belfiore picked up his fifth save of the season after working 2.0 innings.
Four different BC players had a pair of hits on the day. Sophomore Mickey Wiswall went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two stolen bases. One of junior Barry Butera’s two hits was a solo homer in the sixth inning. Sophomores Garret Smith and Mike Sudol were the other Eagles with two hits in the game. Junior Robbie Anston scored twice.
Boston College Recap
Maryland Recap
NC State 13 Wake Forest 7
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Drew Poulk homered, scored three runs, and drove in three more and Wade Moore also homered and drove in three to highlight a big day of offense as NC State defeated Wake Forest 13-7 in the final game of a three-game ACC series at the Wake Forest Baseball Park on Sunday.
NC State improves to 12-10 overall and 3-6 in the ACC. Wake Forest falls to 10-10 and 1-8 in ACC play.
With the help of a season-high five doubles and a six-run fifth inning, the Wolfpack hit double digits in runs for the second straight game, spreading out plenty of offense to put away the Demon Deacons. John Lambert (1-1) got the victory with three innings of work in relief. Lambert allowed three runs on two hits for the Pack. He struck out three and walked one. Sam Brown started and went three innings, scattering three hits and allowing three runs. Wake Forest starter Phil Negus took the loss. He allowed seven runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three. Negus falls to 1-2 on the season.
NC State Recap
Wake Forest Recap
