Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech baseball team welcomes the Liberty Flames to English Field at Union Park this afternoon as part of Military Appreciation Day at the game. Before the contest starts, there will be an ROTC scholarship presentation and a ceremonial first pitch. The Highty Tighties will play the national anthem, followed by a firing of Skipper, and the band will be on site to provide music during selected inning breaks. Admission is free and all fans are asked to enter the park through the home plate grandstand.
Gameday Information
Virginia Tech (10-12) vs. Liberty (13-9) - 4 p.m.
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Welcome back: Scheduling and Mother Nature has seen the Hokies start the season playing 18 of their first 22 games away from Blacksburg, which included traveling to five different states. However, today's game against Liberty starts a five-game home stand and, when the Hokies head to Lynchburg to face the Flames again on May 2, a span of 23 scheduled games with 14 at home and just four outside the state of Virginia. Of note, the 2005 team played 21 of its first 22 games away from Blacksburg.
The last time we played at home: The last home date for the Hokies (March 10), Virginia Tech head coach John Szefc picked up the 400th victory in his head coaching career. The Hokies' head coach, who is the school's 25th head coach in program history and is in his first season leading the team, had previously won 180 games in five seasons at Maryland (2013-17) and 212 games in seven years at Marist (1996-2002).
Facing the Flames: In a series that started back in 1979 and has seen the two teams face each other at least once a year every season, except last season, the Hokies hold a 39-25 edge and a 23-13 mark at home and a 15-10 record at English Field at Union Park. The series resumes after a one-year hiatus, with Tech winning the last matchup in Lynchburg, 11-10, in an epic comeback (Full recap HERE). Trailing 10-2 entering the eighth, the Hokies scored eight times in the frame capped by Tom Stoffel's two-out, three-RBI double and Sam Fragale's ninth-inning single delivered the game winner. In a relief appearance, Nic Enright picked up his first collegiate win.