Hokie ClubThe weekend: Tech continues its 120th season of baseball this weekend with its final non-conference regular season contests - a two-game set with the Marist Red Foxes, a team the Hokies have faced just one time prior - and defeated, 14-8 back in 2007.
Facing the MAAC: Against current Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams, the Hokies are 7-3 all-time. That includes games versus Canisius (1-0), Niagara (3-1) and Rider (2-2).
Doing it first: Two weeks ago, the Hokies became the first (and are still the only) team in the country to face three top five opponents (ranked in the top five in at least three of the four major polls - see page 4). Only nine teams have faced top five teams twice, so far - Arizona State, Auburn, Florida, Long Beach State, Maryland, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington - while Georgia Tech and Kentucky face their second this weekend.
Knocking off a top five team: Tech had won a series against a top five opponent just twice in its history before this year, and both were on the road and in 2010 - at No. 4 Florida State and at No. 3 Georgia Tech. The Hokies have matched that feat, knocking off two top five teams this year, but this time both were at English Field, as they defeated No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 Virginia.
Doing it first, again: By beating No. 5 Virginia two weeks ago, Tech became the first team in the nation to defeat two top five teams this year. Only four schools can claim a series win (or two wins in one weekend) over one top five school (same criteria as above) and those are South Carolina (over LSU), San Diego and Washington (over Oregon State) and Arizona State (over Arkansas).
Joe Mantiply is the only starting pitching in the nation with wins over two top five teams, while Max MacNabb of San Diego also has two, but both were in relief outings versus Oregon State.
Links: Follow live stats all weekend long on hokiesports.com and get game updates via twitter @VT_Baseball. Both games are available on All-Access, with audio links above.