Baseball

This Week in ACC Baseball

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Seven teams throughout the ACC are ranked in this week’s D1Baseball poll, which is tied for the most of any conference. Clemson leads the way at No. 5, while No. 6 Duke, No. 8 Wake Forest, No. 10 Florida State, No. 14 Virginia, No. 15 North Carolina and No. 21 NC State each appear in the poll.
 
Last weekend, North Carolina became the first team to clinch a berth to the 2024 ACC Baseball Championship at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. Four additional teams – Clemson, Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech – all have the ability to clinch a spot in the conference tournament this weekend.
 
The conference weekend slate kicks off tonight from Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, as No. 14 Virginia battles Boston College. The Thursday night test is BC’s annual ALS Awareness Game played in honor of former Boston College baseball captain Pete Frates since his ALS diagnosis in 2012. This year marks its fifth time being played at Fenway Park. Frates passed away in 2019 at the age of 34.
 
Two ACC schools, Pitt and No. 21 NC State, have a break from conference play this week. The Panthers will host Bryant (26-12), while NC State will welcome Ball State (25-15-1). The other 12 schools around the league will be playing conference games.
 
Noting ACC Baseball – April 25
  • The ACC boasts the second-best conference RPI throughout the country, while leading the country in opponent strength of schedule, road success, and road RPI.
  • Six ACC teams remain ranked inside of the top 25, including four of the top 10 of the RPI. Clemson sits atop the conference at No. 4, followed by No. 5 Florida State, No. 7 North Carolina, No. 9 Wake Forest, No. 16 Virginia and No. 21 Duke. 11 of the ACC’s 14 schools rank inside the top 64 nationally.
  • Nine ACC teams are projected to make the NCAA Tournament Field of 64, according to D1Baseball. Clemson, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina and Wake Forest are all slotted as regional hosts, while Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia and Virginia Tech are also competing in the field as No. 2 or No. 3 seeds.
  • The ACC leads all conferences in batting average (.303), runs (4,552), hits (5,799), doubles (1,103), total bases (9,939), runs batted in (4,157) and sacrifice flies (269).
  • Eight ACC teams are ranked in the top 25 of the most recent KPI rankings, which will also be given to the NCAA selection committee in 2024. Clemson leads the way at No. 5, while No. 6 North Carolina, No. 8 Florida State, No. 9 Wake Forest, No. 12 Virginia, No. 14 Duke, No. 23 NC State and No. 25 Virginia Tech all sit inside the top 25. All 14 ACC teams are ranked inside the top 100.
  • Last weekend, North Carolina became the first team to punch its ticket to the 2024 ACC Baseball Championship at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson, Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech all have the potential to secure their spot in the 12-team tournament this weekend.
  • Georgia Tech’s Matthew Ellis was named the ACC Baseball Player of the Week, while Duke’s Charlie Beilenson was named ACC Pitcher of the Week.
  • Virginia leads the country in both hits (530) and doubles (108). Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz leads the country in walks per game (1.26), while Demon Deacon teammate Chase Burns leads the country in strikeouts (113). North Carolina’s Matthew Matthijs boasts 11 wins on the season to lead the nation.

Upcoming ACC Baseball Schedule
Thursday, April 23
No. 14 Virginia at Boston College (at Fenway Park), 7 pm,  ACC Network
 
Friday, April 24
No. 14 Virginia at Boston College, 3 pm, ACCNX
No. 5 Clemson at Louisville, 6 pm, ACCNX
No. 10 Florida State at No. 6 Duke, 6 pm, ACCNX
Virginia Tech at No. 15 North Carolina, 6 pm, ACCNX
Miami at Georgia Tech, 6 pm, ACCNX
Ball State at No. 21 NC State, 6 pm, ACCNX
Bryant at Pitt, 6 pm, ACCNX
No. 8 Wake Forest at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m., ACCNX
 
Saturday, April 25
No. 14 Virginia at Boston College, 1 pm, ACCNX
No. 5 Clemson at Louisville, 1 pm, ACCNX
Virginia Tech at No. 15 North Carolina, 2 pm, ACCNX
Bryant at Pitt, 3 pm, ACCNX
Ball State at No. 21 NC State, 3 pm, ACCNX
No. 10 Florida State at No. 6 Duke, 4 pm, ACC Network
Miami at Georgia Tech, 4 pm, ACCNX
No. 8 Wake Forest at Notre Dame, 7 pm, ACC Network
 
Sunday, April 30
No. 8 Wake Forest at Notre Dame, 12 pm, ACCNX
Virginia Tech at No. 15 North Carolina, 1 pm, ACCNX
Miami at Georgia Tech, 1 pm, ACCNX
Ball State at No. 21 NC State, 1 pm, ACCNX
Bryant at Pitt, 1 pm, ACCNX
No. 10 Florida State at No. 6 Duke, 1 pm, ACCNX
No. 5 Clemson at Louisville, 4 pm, ESPN2