Noles, Heels Roll While One Bad Inning Does Tech In

On the opening day of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, the top team won, the top pitcher was run out of the game by a disastrous inning and the league's best hitter proved why he had garnered ACC Player of the Year award.

In arguably the best of the three games played Wednesday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, the defending tournament champion Miami Hurricanes sent 13 batters to the plate in the sixth inning to defeat Georgia Tech, 8-6.

The Yellow Jackets, who were eyeing a No. 1 seed before losing two of three at Duke to close the regular season, have now lost three in a row heading into Friday's must-win game with Boston College.

The Eagles dropped a 7-2 decision to Florida State, the top-seeded team in the tournament.

In Wednesday's nightcap, sixth-ranked North Carolina used a two-home run performance from reigning ACC Player of the Year Dustin Ackley to knock off rival Duke, 8-3. 

North Carolina, which edged Georgia Tech to win the regular season title in the Coastal Division, is off until Friday when the Tar Heels play Virginia at 8 p.m.

For Georgia Tech, which came into the tournament leading the nation in home runs, the loss to Miami was frustrating. The Jackets led until the sixth inning, but they left 13 on base and a comeback against Miami fell short.

It also didn't help the that ACC Pitcher of the Year Deck McGuire, who was undefeated heading into Wednesday's game, fell apart in the sixth inning.

The sophomore, who boasted a 10-0 regular season record, walked the leadoff batter before retiring the next 10 in a row.

He had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning when Jason Hagerty doubled to right field with one out. It was the beginning of the end for McGuire, who owned a 2-1 lead heading into the pivotal sixth inning.

Five of the next six Miami batters would reach base.

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