ACC Baseball News & Notes: Eight Teams Called for Field of 64

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On Memorial Day Monday, the field of 64 for the NCAA Baseball Tournament was announced. The ACC heard the names of its members throughout the half-hour presentation. Eight schools heard and saw their names go up in lights. Four of the eight received the bonus of being named regional site hosts. It was a good day for the league as the “Road to Omaha” gets underway on Friday.

Wake Forest was named the number 1 overall seed for the tournament. At 47-10, they are in the field for the 15th time and second year in a row. WF becomes the seventh team from the ACC to earn the #1 overall seed since the current format was put in place back in 1999. They are the first from the ACC since North Carolina was number 1 in 2013. On Friday night, the Demon Deacons will take on George Mason (34-25) from the Atlantic-10. They will do so with the nation’s best team ERA at 2.82. They have allowed the fewest hits per nine innings at 6.67.

The Clemson Tigers were named the #4 seed overall and at 42-19, they are back in the tournament for the first time since 2019. This is the 45th overall appearance for the Tigers, That is the fifth most in NCAA history. Defense has been solid all season long for the Tigers. Their fielding percentage of .978 is ranked 41st in the country. They have made 49 errors in 60 games. At the plate, Cam Cannarella leads the team with a .386 batting average. The freshman has 93 hits in 57 games totaling 241 at-bats. On Friday afternoon, the Tigers begin play vs Lipscomb (36-24).

Virginia is the seventh overall seed and they are in the tournament for the third straight year and for the 20th time overall. Offense has been the calling card of this team. Catcher Kyle Teel is 9th in the nation with a .414 batting average. He has 94 hits in 227 at-bats. He is not the only one swinging a hot bat. Griff O’Ferrall was a .393 hitter for Virginia this season with 92 hits in 234 at-bats. His numbers have him 32nd on the country’s batting list. On Friday afternoon, they will play Army (38-16) who will be making their fourth straight trip to the tournament. Kevin Dubrule leads the Black Knights in hitting at .411 90 hits in 219 at-bats.

The Miami Hurricanes are seeded ninth overall and they are making their 49th all-time trip to the NCAA Tournament. That number ranks third in the nation. This will be the second year in a row that Miami has been named a host site. Yohardy Morales is 16th in the nation in hitting batting .405 with 90 hits in 222 at-bats. As a team, the Hurricanes are very good at getting on base. They have walked 296 times in 59 games. That is good for 47th in the nation. On Friday night, they will play the Maine Black Bears (32-19).

At 35-22, Boston College is back in the tournament for the first time since 2016. They are making their 12th trip to the postseason. The last time the Eagles were in the field, they made it to the Super Regional where they lost to Miami. BC is the best fielding team in the ACC and one of the best in the country. They have a .982% with 34 errors in 53 games. They are in the Tuscaloosa Regional where on Friday afternoon they will play Troy (39-20). They are meeting for the first time ever. Troy is pretty good at turning double plays. They have turned 48 in 59 games, good for a tie for 23rd in the nation.

The Duke Blue Devils (35-21) are in the field for the fourth time in the past five years. This will be the 10th time overall. Pitching has been a key for the Blue Devils this spring. They have six shutouts in 56 games. Good for 10th in the country. Charlie Bellenson has made 33 appearances for the Blue Devils totaling 49.2 innings pitched. The Blue Devils are heading to the Conway Regional and on Friday afternoon they play UNCW (34-21).

The North Carolina Tar Heels (35-22) are in the field for the 35th time. Junior Matt Poston has made 30 appearances for the Tar Heels this spring. He has totaled 40.2 innings. The Tar Heels will head to their Regional with an on-base percentage of .402%. They have walked 321 times this spring, been hit by pitch 81 more timers, have 18 sac-flies, and 11 sac-hits. On Friday night, the Tar Heels will play Iowa (42-14).

The North Carolina State Wolfpack (35-19) will be making their 33rd trip to the tournament. They are 33rd in the country in WHIP at 1.37. They have given up 191 walks, and 464 hits against in 477.2 innings played. They are heading to the Columbia Regional where they will play Campbell (44-12). Campbell is 24th in WHIP at 1.35. they have given up 264 walks, and 425 hits against in 510.1 innings. Their team ERA is 4.53 good for 36th best in the nation. They have allowed 307 runs and 257 earned runs in 510.1 innings.

The league has had at least one member make it to the College World Series in the past 16 years. Multiple teams have made it in 10 of those years. 29 ACC teams have been in the last 16 CWS. An average of just under two per year.