Boston College Takes On UNC in ACC Semis

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PITCHING MATCH-UP

Saturday, 1 p.m. (NESN+/ACCNE): RHP-John Witkowski (1-0, 6.58) vs. LHP-Will Sandy (2-2, 6.42)

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES

Record: 31-26 (12-18 ACC)
Coach: Mike Gambino
Career Record/Years: 208-274/9
Rank: NR RPI: 53

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Record: 40-17 (17-13 ACC)
Coach: Mike Fox
Career Record/Years: 1,459-531/37
Rank: 17^CBN/19^USA/20^N/23^D1B RPI: 14

The 12-seed Boston College Eagles are heading to their first ACC Championship semifinals after wins over Clemson and top-seed Louisville. BC takes on No. 17 and fifth-seeded North Carolina Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast across the ACC’s regional sports networks, including NESN+, and streamed on ACC Network Extra.

ABOUT THE EAGLES

Boston College has won nine of its last 11 games to improve to 31-26 on the season; the ninth 30-win season in program history. The Eagles are hitting .288 as a team and led by senior third baseman Jake Alu at .346 with 51 runs scored and 39 driven in. Freshman second baseman Cody Morissette is hitting .327 for the season and has five hits through his first two tournament games, including two home runs in the opener. He leads BC in doubles (20) and RBI (41). Senior right-hander John Witkowski has made 17 appearances, including two starts. He last pitched vs. Notre Dame (5/17) and last started against Duke (4/27). Witkowski owns a 1-0 record and 6.58 earned run average with 28 strikeouts to just three walks in 26 innings pitched.

THREE POSTSEASONS IN FOUR YEARS

The Eagles’ senior class is the first to reach the ACC postseason three times in a career and only the second class in program history to reach three postseasons in four years. The class of 2005 previously played in three Big East tournaments.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

For the second time in three years, BC’s postseason fate was settled on the final weekend of the season against Notre Dame. Needing one win, the Eagles took the opener. Throughout the season, BC won three ACC series (at FSU, at VT, vs. ND) and claimed a game in six of the other seven series.

ALL-ACC BIRDS

The Eagles matched their program record with four players receiving All-ACC accolades. Senior Dan Metzdorf became the fourth BC player to earn First Team and first since 2014. Freshmen Sal Frelick and Cody Morissette were voted to the Second Team and senior Jake Alu made the Third Team. The Eagles previously had four players voted All-ACC in 2009. A total of 11 players had previously been All-ACC in Boston College’s first 13 years in the league. Frelick, Morissette, and pitcher Mason Pelio were named to the All-Freshman Team.

BC IN THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP

This year marks Boston College’s fifth trip to the ACC Championship in 14 years in the league. The Eagles made the conference tournament back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010 and again in 2016 and 2017. BC is 5-6 all-time in the tournament.

CODY TWO-BAGS

Freshman second baseman Cody Morissette doubled twice vs. Notre Dame (5/18) for his second two-double game of the season as he pushed his total to 20. While tying for second and one off the lead in the ACC, he passed Tony Sanchez (2009 MLB No. 4 pick) and tied Eric Campbell (2008 MLB 8th round pick) for the seventh most doubles in a season at BC.

ALU DOES IS HIT

Senior third baseman Jake Alu has bounced back from hitting .216 as a junior to hit a team-best .346 entering the weekend. He entered the ACC tournament second in the league in hits at 78. He passed four former Eagles, including his head coach Mike Gambino (2000) for fourth-most in a season at BC with a two-hit game vs. Louisville (5/22) to push his season total to 80. The BC record is 85; held by Robbie Anston (2009). As a sophomore, Alu hit .331 (55-for-166) and through April 24 this season had hit an identical .331 (55-for-166).