Box Score | Bracket | ACC Championship Photos
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Tommy White matched and surpassed multiple milestones on Wednesday night at Truist Field to carry NC State to its third consecutive berth in the ACC Baseball Championship semifinals.
White blasted three home runs in the 10th-seeded Wolfpack’s 9-6 win over third-seeded Miami, bringing his season total to 26 and tying the NCAA freshman record held since 1990 by Georgia Southern’s Todd Greene. White also became NC State’s all-time single-season home run leader, breaking the previous mark of 25 held by Tracy Woodson (1984) and Turtle Zaun (1988).
Additionally, White tied the ACC Championship record with three home runs in a single game. It has now been done six times, including last season by Louisville’s Alex Binelas versus Clemson (also at Truist Field).
With a 2-0 mark in Pool C play, NC State (35-20) earned the spot opposite Pool B winner Pitt (29-26) in Saturday’s 5 p.m. semifinal. The winner of that game will advance to Sunday’s noon ACC title game.
Yohandy Morales hit a three-run homer in the top of the second inning to counter White’s first-inning solo shot and stake the Hurricanes to a 4-1 lead, and Maxwell Romero belted a 425-foot solo homer in the top of the fifth inning. But White’s power display, timely hitting by LuJames Groover III (3-for-5, two RBI) and Noah Soles’ fourth home of the season rallied the Wolfpack to its second straight tournament win over a higher-seeded team.
NC State’s bullpen also loomed big as Matt Willadsen (5-4) worked six solid innings in relief of starter Logan Whitaker. Willadsen limited the Hurricanes to two runs on four hits while striking out eight.
Miami (39-17) threatened in the ninth inning, putting two runners on with one out, but Wolfpack closer Chris Villaman slammed the door by striking out Edgardo Villegas and Morales to earn his 11th save of the year.
The Hurricanes will wrap up action in this year’s tournament versus Wake Forest (39-17-1) on Friday at 3 p.m. Both of those teams will then await the unveiling of the NCAA Tournament selections early Monday afternoon.
2022 ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
May 24-29 at Truist Field, Charlotte, N.C.
POOL A – #1 Virginia Tech, #8 North Carolina, #12 Clemson
POOL B – #2 Louisville, #7 Georgia Tech, #11 Pitt
POOL C – #3 Miami, #6 Wake Forest, #10 NC State
POOL D – #4 Notre Dame, #5 Virginia, #9 Florida State
Tuesday, May 24
No. 11 Pitt 12, No. 7 Georgia Tech 6
No. 10 NC State 11, No. 6 Wake Forest 8
No. 8 North Carolina 9, No. 12 Clemson 2
Wednesday, May 25
No. 11 Pitt 6, No. 2 Louisville 5
No. 9 Florida State 13, No. 5 Virginia 3 (8 innings)
No. 10 NC State 9, Miami 6
Thursday, May 26
No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. No. 2 Louisville, 11 a.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Florida State, 3 p.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
No. 1 Virginia Tech vs. No. 12 Clemson, 7 p.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
Friday, May 27
No. 5 Virginia vs. No. 4 Notre Dame, 11 a.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
No. 6 Wake Forest vs. No. 3 Miami, 3 p.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 1 Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
Saturday, May 28
Pool A Winner vs. Pool D Winner, 1 p.m. (ACCN/ACCN Extra)
Pool B Winner vs. Pool C Winner, 5 p.m. (ACCN/ACCN Extra)
Sunday, May 29
ACC Championship, Noon (ESPN2/ACCN Extra)