BLACKSBURG – One of the bigger games in recent memory at Tech Softball Park will take place on Wednesday, when two nationally-ranked teams go at it in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. ET.
No. 22/20 Virginia Tech (33-5, 13-2 ACC) will take on No. 20/17 JMU (27-6, 8-1 CAA), marking the first time that the two have faced each other when both teams are ranked. Tech leads the all-time series 11-9, but has lost five of the last six games.
Of the 20 contests between the two schools, only four games, two doubleheaders to be exact, have had one team ranked, with the Dukes owning that mark. Tech is 1-3 against JMU when the Dukes are ranked.
Wednesday's doubleheader will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with both games being available to watch. Evan Hughes (play-by-play) and Shelby Miller (color) will be on the call.
The last time the Hokies played in a ranked-ranked game was on March 22, 2015, when they were No. 25 playing against No. 10 Florida State. Earlier this season, Tech faced then-No. 8/8 Georgia (30-11, 5-7 SEC) and split its two games with the Bulldogs, making the Hokies 1-1 in ranked games this year.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Wed. | 4 p.m. vs. JMU | Stats | Watch
Wed. | 6 p.m. vs. JMU | Stats | Watch
The last time out, Tech won its third straight ACC road series and did it by sweeping Duke (19-22, 8-7). With the sweep, it marked the first time in school history that the Hokies swept three ACC teams on the road, topping the previous high of two set by the 2007 and 2008 teams.
Pitcher Carrie Eberle (19-2) tossed two complete-game wins, striking out 15 batters in both games combined. Outfielder Emma Strouth had a team-high five hits in the series.
In the polls this week, Tech is No. 22 in the USA Today/NFCA poll, its highest ranking in the poll this season, and is at No. 20 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll for the second straight week. The RPI has the Hokies slotted at No. 27, their highest ranking of the season.
Outfielder Darby Trull has the best batting average in the ACC with a .443 clip, while Strouth has the most RBIs in the league with 46. Eberle has the fifth-most wins in the nation with 19 and is tied for first in the conference.
SCOUTING No. 20/17 JMU
Record: 27-6 (8-1 CAA)
Head coach: Loren LaPorte (70-20, 2nd season)
All-time series: Tech leads 11-9
The Duke are coming off a series sweep at Hofstra, winning each game by more than five runs, including a 16-2 run-rule victory. Earlier in the week, JMU played [RV/--] Liberty (27-14, 9-3 ASUN) and won in a tight one, 1-0.
