Hokie ClubVirginia Tech (17-24, 7-14 ACC) vs. #9 Duke (31-10, 13-7 ACC)
April 27-29, 2018 - English Field at Union Park - Blacksburg, Virginia
Gameday Information
Stats: Link
Audio: Link
Video: Game 1; Game 2; Game 3
Tech to honor those of the past during three-game series with Duke: Starting Friday, Tech will face No. 9 Duke at English Field at Union Park for a three-game ACC series that concludes on Sunday. First pitches this weekend are 6 p.m. (Friday), 3 p.m. (Saturday) and 1 p.m. (Sunday). The weekend will be highlighted with the celebration of 125 seasons of Tech baseball with recognition of various players, coaches and eras of Hokies past, including being on the field pregame on Saturday.
Hokies versus Duke: Tech will be looking to end a series slide this weekend, as the Hokies have dropped four straight ACC series to the Blue Devils, as Duke has taken a 37-26 edge in the overall match-up including a 23-16 mark as ACC members. The Hokies last won a series back in 2013, sweeping Duke in Durham, but are just 3-9 since. Meanwhile, head coach John Szefc was 4-2 against the Blue Devils while the head coach at Maryland, winning series in both 2012 and 2013.
Coward approaching ACC milestones: In ACC-only games, Connor Coward has thrown a team-best 45.2 innings and has 47 strikeouts. With three potential weekend starts left, he should easily become just the fourth Tech pitcher with 50 strikeouts in ACC play and could be just the second with more than 60. The top four marks entering the weekend belong to Mark Zecchino (70, 2011), Justin Wright (60, 2010), Mathew Price (56, 2010) and Jesse Hahn (50, 2010). There have been eight Hokies who have thrown more than 60 innings during ACC play, averaging 5.0 innings over his last three potential starts would make him just the ninth.
Tech careers winding down, but marks within reach: Entering the weekend, there are just 13 regular season games left on the Tech schedule and some Hokies are within reach of a few other milestones - these marks are for players since team joined the ACC (since 2005).
First, Tom Stoffel is just three hits shy of becoming just the 10th Hokie to reach 200 career hits, while his 31 hit-by-pitches are tied for the most in a Tech ACC career (Anthony Sosnoskie and Andrew Rash), his 45 career doubles are the eighth-most in a career and his 126 RBI is tied for eighth-most.
Sam Fragale enters the weekend with 180 career hits, an outside shot at reaching 200, but here is where his other career numbers currently rank in a Tech career: 19 sacrifice flies (1st), 143 RBI (T-4th), 317 total bases (6th), 170 starts (8th), 656 at-bats (8th) and 186 games played (9th).
On the mound, Connor Coward is approaching 200 career innings and career strikeouts - as he enters with 196.2 innings (7th all-time) and 188 strikeouts (5th). Only three Hokies have reached 200 in both categories (since 2005): Rhett Ballard (263 K in 274.2 IP from 2006-09), Joe Mantiply (227 K in 299.2 IP from 2010-13) and Justin Wright (216 K in 226.2 IP from 2008-10).