Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Pulling 10 wins out of the gate from 13 non-conference games, the Virginia Tech baseball team looks to advance its strong start into ACC play this weekend when it welcomes Georgia Tech to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park for a three-game league series (March 7-9).
Watch every pitch and play of this weekend’s series between the Hokies and the Yellow Jackets from the ballpark with single-game tickets starting at $10. Fans also receive the most value on access to ACC home games this season through the purchase of a 15-ticket flex plan, available at $90.
Virginia Tech arrives at its conference-opening weekend having already found success against quality non-conference foes, including three-game series victories against Bucknell and UNCG as well as a winning weekend at the Keith LeClair Classic (hosted by East Carolina). During midweek action, the Hokies have taken down a pair of 30-game winners from last season in ETSU and James Madison, most recently polishing off a two-game sweep of Norfolk State.
Turning its attention to Georgia Tech this weekend, Virginia Tech’s winning recipe should remain the same – a one-two combination of another talented, top-to-bottom offense paired with an arsenal of emerging arms relatively unknown in the ACC spotlight.
Virginia Tech’s season-opening series against Bucknell was an offensive clinic of sorts as the Hammerin’ Hokies piled on 52 runs at a +43 scoring margin, bookending the series with convincing 19-0 and 27-1 triumphs. As a team, the Blacksburg bats hit at a .410 clip while swinging 25 extra-base hits – more than half of their total hit production.
Though denied the sweep against the Bison, Virginia Tech responded by winning six of its next seven games, rallying from a game down against UNCG to take the teams’ three-game series (wins of 6-2 and 8-3 against the Spartans). The Hokies’ steady stream of hitting, while prevalent, became much more strategic and timelier, leading to victories against two 2024 NCAA Regional teams and an 8-2 record on March 1.
“The depth on this team – we can roll out 14 or 15 guys a game,” said redshirt-senior outfielder Sam Tackett. “I haven’t seen that in my five years here. It’s good to have.”
Virginia Tech’s lineup is once again stacked with contributors this season, making the Hammerin’ Hokies as formidable as they have ever been. The same can be said about the team’s pitching staff, which features a wealth of new arms with effective mechanics.
Several plate producers have been key to Virginia Tech’s early success, including Tackett (.525 batting average, four home runs, 18 RBIs), Jared Davis (.440 batting average, five doubles, six stolen bases) and David Lewis (.364 batting average, three home runs, 14 RBIs). Together, the Hokies are averaging close to 10 runs per game – the second best mark among ACC programs.
While Virginia Tech’s bats were raking, its arms have also been peppering the strike zone. The Hokies enter ACC play with the nation’s third highest strikeouts per nine innings mark (13.25), trailing only Tennessee and Wake Forest.
Through the first three weeks of the season, Virginia Tech’s starting trio of Brett Renfrow, Jake Marciano and Logan Eisenreich have united for a 4-1 record, a 2.57 ERA and a 4.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Behind them, the Hokies’ bullpen has continued to shine, stamping seven victories (no losses) when leading after seven innings of play.
Marciano, three starts into his tenure in the maroon and orange, believes he has found his place with Virginia Tech as he completes his growth from high school to college ball.
“I didn’t pitch in the fall that much,” said Marciano. “The transition was easy because of the older guys, following their steps and watching how everyone plays.”
Projected to make his ACC debut on Saturday against Georgia Tech, Marciano enters conference play with a 2-0 record, having thrown 19 strikeouts through 13 innings pitched (1.38 ERA). He was particularly effective on Feb. 23 against UNCG, delivering five scoreless innings while punching out seven batters, sending the Hokies onto their 6-2 win.
Virginia Tech’s competitive energy spilled into the Keith LeClair Classic, where the Hokies picked up victories against Indiana State and Kent State before dueling with East Carolina, a perennial tournament participant. Despite their Sunday defeat to the Pirates, the experience has them prepped well for a tricky league-opening test against Georgia Tech.
“We’re excited to play in conference games,” said senior third baseman David Lewis. “[Seeing] better arms and [facing] big opponents, the boys are very excited.”
Game times between Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.