Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – For the first time this spring, Virginia Tech baseball will play host to No. 12 North Carolina in a three-game series this weekend. The Hokies (24-13, 9-9 ACC), who enter the set looking to win their third ranked series on the year, will aim to strike gold behind a combination of powerful hitting and defensive prowess that has elevated them to 6-4 against ranked opponents this season. With promotional giveaways, exciting events, and a mix of key players taking the field, this weekend’s series is everything a baseball fan could dream of. Here are five reasons to attend the three-game stretch against No. 12 North Carolina this weekend.
- Historic Matchup – Friday’s opening matchup will mark the 121st time the Hokies and the Tar Heels have faced off on the diamond, the only team meeting Tech more being Virginia (203 total matchups). Dating back as far as 1896, the Tar Heels are one of the Hokies’ oldest opponents, emphasizing a shared competitive history between the two prolific squads. Be sure to see the current iteration of these storied programs when they face off starting this Friday.
- Three Games, Three Days – In what will be the penultimate conference home series, the upcoming set against North Carolina will feature games on Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m. and Sunday, April 20 at 1 p.m. The games, which currently serve as the Hokies’ last encounter with ranked opponents this season, are an outstanding opportunity to see a Tech team that owns the most recent victory in the series history. Be sure to secure your tickets to what promises to be an exciting stretch of action!
- Kids' Weekend– Come out to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park to celebrate a “Backyard Baseball”-inspired matchup on Friday, recognize pediatric cancer awareness on Saturday and participate in an Easter egg hunt on Sunday – it’ll be fun for the whole family! Let your kiddos search for eggs filled with their favorite candies hidden around the ballpark. The egg hunt will start when the gates open at pregame, so arrive early!
- Giveaways – Fans who show out to English Field at Atlantic Bank Union Park this weekend will have an opportunity to get their hands on some Hokie freebies while supplies last. Be sure to secure your own yellow ribbon in recognition of pediatric cancer on Saturday and an exclusive set of Virginia Tech Baseball trading cards on Sunday. These giveaways are too good to miss – be sure to head to the ballpark at the end of the week!
- Players to Watch – If a rich competition history, exciting promotional content and unique giveaways aren’t enough to get you in the seats at Atlantic Union Bank Park, perhaps the skill on English Field will do the trick. The Hokies have enjoyed success from the contributions of multiple key athletes this spring, with redshirt senior Sam Tackett leading the charge on offense. Named a Midseason Breakout Star by D1Baseball, the Lexington, Kentucky native currently leads the team in batting average among starters (.349) while also clobbering ten home runs on the year. Toeing the mound is sophomore ace Brett Renfrow, who, through nine starts this spring, has a 2.60 ERA. Against ranked opponents this season, the Manassas, Virginia native has sent 16 opposing batters to the dugout via strikeout, including a five-strikeout gem in the 13-2 win against No. 16 Wake Forest on March 28.