Edgardo Villegas robs go-ahead Clemson HR to send Miami to ACC Tournament semifinals

Pool B of the 2024 ACC Baseball Tournament was decided by inches. Miami outfielder Edgardo Villegas robbed Clemson outfielder Tristan Bissetta of a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to send the Hurricanes to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.

Bissetta drilled a ball to left field as Miami pitcher Myles Caba squatted to his knees, worried Bissetta had gotten enough. However, Villegas backpedaled, leaped and made the catch to end the game and secure an 8-7 win for the Hurricanes.

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With the victory, Miami advances to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. Clemson will play Louisville in pool play on Friday, but even with a win the Tigers can’t advance.

You can watch the incredible play by Edgardo Villegas below:

WHAT A PLAY. CANES FOR THE WIN. 🤯@CanesBaseball get it done! pic.twitter.com/WImSGD2lbr

— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) May 23, 2024

Miami jumped out to a 6-2 lead against Clemson thanks to a five-run second inning, before the Tigers battled back.

The Hurricanes still led 7-3 heading to the seventh inning but Clemson scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-6.

Miami got a big pinch-hit home run from Jake Kulikowski in the bottom of the eighth inning, which proved to be critical.

Clemson opened the ninth with a solo home run by Jacob Hinderleider to cut the lead to one run, with the heart of the order up.

Blake Wright walked, before Miami reliever Myles Caba retired the next two batters, setting up the dramatic finish.

Miami arrived in Charlotte needing to win four straight games to reach the NCAA Tournament. They won the first two, beating Louisville on Tuesday and Clemson on Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.

Hurricanes coach JD Arteaga spoke earlier this week about his team’s mindset, knowing that if they lose the season is over.

“We’ve got nothing to lose, man. We’re coming out and all hands on deck,” Arteaga said ahead of the matchup against the Tigers. “We put ourselves in a situation where we’ve got to win the tournament to move on to the NCAA Tournament. So we’ve gotta win the first one, but our goal was to come out here and win all four. So whatever it takes. Every game is a Game 7.

“It’s been done before. You go back to Fresno State a few years ago, they were the last team in. They won their tournament. That’s how they got into the NCAA Tournament. They ended up winning the national championship. Tulane last year kind of a similar run. They were sub .500, got hot at the end and won their tournament and got an NCAA bid. That’s all you ask for, to get a chance to play in the postseason.”