Hokie ClubVirginia Tech (21-30, 8-19 ACC) at #6 North Carolina 34-17, 19-8 ACC)
May 17-19, 2018 - Boshamer Stadium - Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Gameday Information
UNC Stats: Link
Virginia Tech IMG Audio: Link
ACC Network Extra: Game 1; Game 2; Game 3?
The Hokie close out regular season at North Carolina: Virginia Tech will finish its 125th regular season of baseball in Chapel Hill this weekend with a three-game ACC series with the sixth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. First game of the set was scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. but with inclement weather in the forecast, first pitch has been moved up to 1 p.m. With all the weather forecasted for the weekend, stay tuned to the schedule page or our Twitter account - @HokiesBaseball - for the most up-to-date information.
Hokies versus UNC: There has not been much success for the Tech against the Tar Heels, especially since the Hokies joined the ACC in 2005. UNC holds the overall mark at 73-26-2, with a 31-4 record in ACC games, a 39-13-2 mark at home and is 12-0-1 in ACC series. Of note, the last time Tech played in Chapel Hill, April 10, 2016 - the Hokies won 4-3, which was their first victory there since 1976 that also ended a school record 17-game losing streak that season.
Some success on the road: Entering its last road weekend, Tech is eying a chance to surpass the most wins on the road in conference play since 2013. The Hokies have already won four games on the road in the league - one each at Georgia Tech, Boston College, Virginia and Notre Dame. The four victories are more than the last two year's win totals combined - the team went 1-14 in 2017 and 2-13 in 2016. Since 2013, when the team tied the program's best mark with an 8-7 road league record, Tech had won at most four games - in 2015 - the last time they made the ACC Tournament.
Eying a couple century marks: Sam Fragale enters the weekend just four hits shy of 200 for his career. He would join Tom Stoffel, who notched his 200th hit May 1, and become just the 11th player since Tech joined the ACC (2005) to reach the milestone. Stoffel and Fragale would be the first two teammates to collect hit No. 200 in the same season since Alex Perez and Brendon Hayden (2015). Connor Coward enters the weekend with 193 career strikeouts, which is currently tied for the fourth most ever during a pitcher's career as an ACC player. If he can post seven strikeouts this weekend, he'd be the first Hokie with 200 since Joe Mantiply (227, 2010-13). Lastly, Jack Owens(runs), Luke Scherzer (strikeouts) and Joe Freiday, Jr. (hits) all enter the weekend three shy in their respective category from reaching the 100-mark milestone.
Seymour in rare company: Ian Seymour has a chance to do what no Tech freshman pitcher has done before in the ACC - lead the team in ERA overall and in ACC-only games. The last freshman to lead the team in ERA was Joe Saunders (3.92, 2000). He also has a chance to post just the second sub-3.00 ERA in league-only play (min. 20 IP) joining Joe Mantiply (2.73, 2013). Lastly, Seymour - along with Coward - have now become the fifth and sixth pitchers to reach 50 strikeouts in ACC-only action. The others: Marc Zecchino (70, 2011) and 2010 pitchers Justin Wright (60), Mathew Price (56) and Jesse Hahn (50).