ACC Baseball Tournament Kicks Off in Durham with Exciting Matchups

Durham, North Carolina — The 2025 ACC baseball tournament began on May 20, featuring 16 teams in a single-elimination format. The tournament, held at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, is set to run through May 25. Georgia Tech, which had a strong regular season, is the top seed.

This year’s tournament includes a new structure where the top four seeds earn byes to the quarterfinals, and seeds five through eight receive a single bye. The first round kicked off on Tuesday, with Miami looking to cement their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

In the opening game, the Miami Hurricanes faced the California Golden Bears. Despite hopes of a deep run, Miami’s pitchers struggled, walking seven batters. California’s catcher Alex Birge shone, hitting two home runs. In a dominant fourth inning, the Golden Bears scored seven runs, eventually defeating Miami.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech took control of their game against Stanford. In the sixth inning, the Hokies scored three runs, boosted by an RBI single from Clay Grady. Despite a late two-run homer from Stanford, Virginia Tech held on for a 7-4 victory.

Pittsburgh opened their matchup against Louisville with an early lead, capitalizing on walks issued by Louisville’s pitching. A fierce comeback brought Louisville back to even at 11-11 in the eighth inning. However, Pittsburgh’s Luke Cantwell hit a crucial two-run homer in the ninth, securing a 13-11 win.

In another thrilling matchup, Boston College and Notre Dame battled hard, requiring extra innings. The Eagles scored in the top of the 10th with an RBI single from Patrick Roche, ultimately winning 5-4 to advance in the tournament.

The ACC tournament is known for its competitive spirit, with several teams looking to prove themselves ahead of the NCAA Championships. Fans eagerly await the upcoming rounds, with the quarterfinals scheduled for May 22.