Clemson eliminates Hurricanes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Josh Cribb threw a complete game, six-hitter to lead Clemson to a 9-1 win Thursday over the Miami Hurricanes, who were eliminated from the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Participating in their first conference tournament, ACC newcomer and third-seeded Miami (38-17-1) scored just two runs in two tourney losses. It was the Hurricanes' sixth straight loss, their longest losing streak since 1966.

Second-seeded Clemson (38-20) advances to face North Carolina State, a 12-2 loser to Virginia on Thursday, in a loser's bracket game today.

GEORGIA TECH 5, FLORIDA STATE 4

When Georgia Tech gets its bats going, no deficit is too big.

One night after rallying from a 7-0 deficit to send Wake Forest to the loser's bracket, the top-seeded Yellow Jackets didn't bat an eye at a four-run deficit. They merely battered Florida State's vaunted bullpen.

The Yellow Jackets sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run seventh, silencing the pro-Seminoles crowd on the way to a victory.

Georgia Tech (40-16) advanced to Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinal against Wake Forest.

WAKE FOREST 2, NORTH CAROLINA 1

Matt Antonelli scored the go-ahead run with the help of two eighth-inning wild pitches to give Wake Forest a win over North Carolina, eliminating the Tar Heels.

Eighth-seeded Wake Forest (28-29), which has won all three of its games in the double-elimination tournament, will meet Florida State today.

If either of those loser-bracket teams lose, they will be eliminated.

VIRGINIA 12, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 2

Matt Avery was credited with a complete game and Virginia pounded out 12 early runs as the Cavaliers beat North Carolina State in the first game shortened to seven innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

This is the first season the ACC Tournament has implemented the mercy rule, which stops a game if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after the opposing team has had at least seven at-bats.

The Wolfpack (40-16) fall into the losers bracket where they will face Clemson in an elimination game today. Virginia (40-17) will face the winner in Saturday's semifinals.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, SOUTH CAROLINA 2

In Hoover, Ala., Jeff Butts hit a two-run stand-up triple to spark a five-run inning and lead Mississippi State to a 6-2 victory over South Carolina in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

The victory sends the seventh-seeded Bulldogs (38-20) into Saturday's semifinals of the double-elimination tournament without a loss and gives the team a day off today.

Sixth-seeded South Carolina takes on Tennessee today at 2:30 p.m.

TENNESSEE 5, LOUISIANA STATE 1

Luke Hochevar allowed one run in seven innings and Kelly Edmundson hit a two-run homer to lead Tennessee to a victory over Louisiana State University, eliminating the Tigers from the tournament.