By Brian Murphy, WRAL

Miami, the 11th seed, became the first team to clinch a spot in Saturday’s semifinals with an 8-7 victory over No. 2 Clemson on Thursday,

The Hurricanes will play the winner of Thursday’s NC State-Duke game in the semifinals.

Clemson’s Tristan Bissetta hit what looked like it could be a go-ahead 2-run home run in the ninth inning, but Miami’s Edgardo Villegas made a catch at the wall to preserve the win.

UNC to face Wake, Burns for spot in semifinals

Top-seeded North Carolina needs just one win to advance to Saturday’s ACC Baseball Championship semifinals in Charlotte.

But Wake Forest pitcher Chase Burns, the league’s pitcher of the year, stands in the Tar Heels’ way. No. 8 seed Wake Forest defeated Pittsburgh 8-1 on Wednesday, setting up a showdown with UNC on Friday for a spot in the semifinal.

Burns, a junior who transferred from Tennessee, is 10-1 with a 2.63 ERA on the season. In 14 starts and 89 innings, he has struck out 169 batters — almost two per inning. The right-hander earned ACC Pitcher of the Year honors earlier in the week.

Burns’ only loss came against UNC in Winston-Salem. The Tar Heels touched up Burns for six earned runs in 6.1 innings in a 6-5 victory. Burns allowed nine hits, but did have 14 strikeouts.

“Let’s call it what it is: I know Chase Burns has had this one circled on his calendar,” Wake Forest coach Tom Walter said after the game, according to reporter Conor O’Neill.

UNC (41-12) plays Pittsburgh on Thursday, but the game won’t matter either way in the championship picture. The Tar Heels are expected to be a top-eight seed in the NCAA Tournament, which means they would host a regional and, if they advance, a super regional in Chapel Hill.

Duke vs. NC State for spot in semifinals

All-ACC second baseman Zac Morris hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead sixth-seeded Duke past No. 10 seed Virginia Tech 11-8 on Tuesday night at the ACC Baseball Championships in Charlotte, setting up an elimination game with No. 3 seed NC State on Thursday.

The teams combined for five home runs, including Morris’ 16th and 17th of the season. Four Blue Devils had two hits in the game, and first baseman Logan Bravo and left fielder Chase Krewson added two RBIs.

There were 17 home runs in three games on the first day of pool play at Truist Field in Charlotte. The tournament record, set in 2022 at the same ballpark, is 54.

Every home run hit on Day 1 of the ACC tournament 📽️

2024 total: 17
2022 ACC tournament record: 54 pic.twitter.com/MX8sbPomxB

— Pat James (@patjames24) May 22, 2024

Reliever James Tallon earned the win, and Charlie Beilenson earned his ACC-leading 12th save after pitching the final three innings.

Duke is 36-18 on the season.

The winner of Thursday’s game with NC State will claim Pool C and advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

NC State plays Virginia Tech on Wednesday. The game will not impact the championship, but could aid the Wolfpack’s chances of earning a top-eight seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Tuesday’s games also set up two other winner-take-all contests: No. 11 Miami, which defeated Louisville, meets No. 2 Clemson on Thursday with the winner claiming Pool B. No. 5 Florida State defeated Georgia Tech, setting up Pool D title game between the Seminoles and No. 4 Virginia on Friday.

Truist Field; Charlotte, N.C.

POOL A: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 8 Wake Forest, No. 12 Pitt

POOL B: No. 2 Clemson, No. 7 Louisville, No. 11 Miami

POOL C: No. 3 NC State, No. 6 Duke, No. 10 Virginia Tech

POOL D: No. 4 Virginia, No. 5 Florida State, No. 9 Georgia Tech

Note: The top seed in each pod, by virtue of the tiebreaker, needs to beat only the winner of the game between the two lower seeds to advance to the semifinals.

2024 ACC Baseball Championship Schedule

Tuesday, May 21

Pool B: No. 11 Miami 8, No. 7 Louisville 5

Pool D: No. 5 Florida State 12, No. 9 Georgia Tech 9

Pool C: No. 6 Duke 11, No. 10 Virginia Tech 8

Wednesday, May 22

Pool D: No. 4 Virginia 13, No. 9 Georgia Tech 0 (7 innings)

Pool A: No. 8 Wake Forest 8, No. 12 Pittsburgh 1

Pool C: No. 3 NC State 19, No. 10 Virginia Tech 9 (8 innings)

Thursday, May 23

Pool B: No. 11 Miami 8, No. 2 Clemson 7. Miami advances to semifinals.

Pool A: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 12 Pitt, 3 p.m. (ACC Network, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371)

Pool C: No. 6 Duke vs. No. 3 NC State, 7 p.m. (ACC Network, 99.9FM The Fan, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371); winner advances to semifinals

Friday, May 24

Pool D: No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 4 Virginia, 11 a.m. (ACC Network, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371); winner advances to semifinals

Pool B: No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 2 Clemson, 3 p.m. (ACC Network, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371)

Pool A: No. 8 Wake Forest vs. No. 1 North Carolina, 7 p.m. (ACC Network, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371)

Saturday, May 25

Pool A Winner vs. winner of Florida State/Virginia, 1 p.m. (ACC Network, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371)

Miami vs. winner of Duke/NC State, 5 p.m. (ACC Network, Sirius XM ACC Radio Channel 371)

Sunday, May 26

ACC Championship Game, Noon (ESPN2)

Source: wralsportsfan.com