Atlantic Division:
1. Florida State: This season has been business as usual for the Seminoles, which swept Boston College on the road this weekend and stand at 10-2 in conference play. The ‘Noles also retained their No. 1 ranking in Baseball America’s Top 25. Not too shabby.
2. Clemson: The No. 16 Tigers took two games at Maryland this weekend before the finale was called off due to inclement weather. Clemson is also the only team in the ACC to have defeated FSU this season. Home games against Furman and Winthrop precede a three-game home set against a struggling N.C. State squad, which begins Saturday.
3. Wake Forest: A six-game win streak has the Demon Deacons as potentially the hottest team in the conference, though five of those wins were against lowly Boston College and Notre Dame. Wake hosts Maryland this weekend in a three-game battle to try and create some distance in the top half of the division.
4. Maryland: The Terrapins cooled off after sweeping N.C. State this past week, managing only two runs against Clemson after an offensive explosion against the Wolfpack. At 16-8 overall, Maryland is still very much in the hunt for its first postseason berth since 1971.
5. N.C. State: The reeling Wolfpack has lost nine straight conference games, a mighty fall from its preseason top-five ranking. Out of the polls for the first time this season, State is in danger of failing to qualify for the ACC Tournament, much less the NCAAs.
6. Notre Dame: The Irish were swept by Wake at home during the weekend, dropping their conference record to 1-11. After a midweek game against Valparaiso, the grueling gauntlet continues as Notre Dame hits the road for Tallahassee.
7. Boston College: BC also stands at 1-11 in the ACC, but has two fewer wins than Notre Dame, landing them in the Atlantic’s cellar. The Eagles have scored just 10 total runs during their six-game losing streak.
Coastal Division
1. Virginia: After a couple of head-scratching losses out of conference to begin the season, head coach Brian O’Connor’s club seems to have righted the ship. The Cavaliers swept rival Virginia Tech during the weekend and also won a series at second-place Miami a week ago.
2. Miami: The Hurricanes waltzed into Doak Field during the weekend and swept N.C. State, doing it with defense Friday and Saturday and offense Sunday. Freshman catcher Zack Collins led the way with two homers in Sunday’s game.
3. Duke: The Blue Devils kept pace with Virginia and Miami this weekend, as they swept UNC-Chapel Hill in Durham, the first time they have done so since 1994.
4. Pittsburgh: Like Duke, the Panthers also got a sweep during the weekend, taking all three games from Georgia Tech. Pitt has a huge chance to improve its division standing and NCAA Tournament hopes when Virginia visits for a three-game set beginning April 5.
5. Georgia Tech: With a 5-7 in-conference record, the Yellow Jackets are one of three teams tied for last in the Coastal Division, but taking two games over UNC on March 22 gives them the edge for now. Reeling after being swept at Pitt, Georgia Tech can get right back into the thick of things when Duke visits Atlanta this weekend.
6. UNC-Chapel Hill: What a difference a year makes for Carolina, who lost a ton of pitching and offense from last year’s team that went to the College World Series. Like their Tobacco Road rivals, the Heels are in danger of watching postseason play instead of participating in it.
7. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are reeling after being swept at Virginia and continue this tough portion of their schedule when Miami visits for three games next weekend. The good news is that so little separates VPI from several fellow Coastal members that a hot streak could propel them right back into the middle of the fray.
