Photo Courtesy: Duke Photography
The Duke Blue Devils will play host to the Miami Hurricanes in this weekend’s top ACC matchup. Duke sits at third in the Coastal Division with a 15-9 record in ACC play. Meanwhile, the Canes have the best record in ACC play at 18-6. College Baseball Central places them at No. 13 in their latest rankings.
Duke swept their last ACC series against Wake Forest and has won seven straight ACC games. Their pitching staff is led by Drew Van Orden and Andrew Istler, both of whom have been very good. Chris Marconcini supplies the power in their lineup.
Miami has been on a tear since dropping two of three at the hands of the University of Virginia. Freshman catcher Zack Collins has led them offensively, and senior Dale Carey is having a strong season as well. On the mound Andrew Suarez, Chris Diaz and Bryan Radziewski have all been strong.
Georgia Tech will try to upset UVA in Charlottesville, as the Cavaliers have spent four consecutive weeks in the No.1 spot in CBC’s top 25 rankings. Cavs ophomore left-hander Nathan Kirby is leading the conference in ERA and ranks 4th in strikeouts. Matt Gonzalez and Daniel Spignola are having strong seasons with the bats for the Yellowjackets.
Maryland will meet up with the Pittsburgh Panthers. Jake Stinnett, the Terps ace, leads the ACC in strikeouts with 107 after a 13 strikeout performance last weekend against Notre Dame. Maryland is in the muddled middle of the Atlantic Division at 12-14, while Pitt is 6th in the Coastal Division ahead of Virginia Tech.
Wake Forest travels to Raleigh to play N.C. State. The Wolfpack have been playing well of late. Ace Carlos Rodon and shortstop Trea Turner have been big contributors. Freshman Will Craig has eight home runs for the Demon Deacons, which ties him for first in the conference.
Florida State will head to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina. FSU moved up to No. 4 in CBC’s top 25. Luke Weaver and Trent Thornton will face off Friday in what should be a good pitcher’s duel. D.J. Stewart headlines a fearsome Seminoles lineup that leads the conference in nearly every offensive category.
Lastly, Clemson will play the Fighting Irish in Indiana. Notre Dame is 4-20 in conference play, while the Tigers are 12-11 after getting swept by the Canes in their last conference series. Daniel Gossett ranks 4th in the ACC in ERA, and 5th in strikeouts.
It’s the second to last weekend of ACC play. Beyond the clear top three teams of UVA, FSU, and Miami, there’s a lot of uncertainty. N.C. State could be dangerous despite their 9-15 record, and Duke might not be getting the credit they deserve for their 15-9 mark. Beyond that, six teams are within two games of each other.
