Hokies head to Louisiana for first-ever series against Ragin' CajunsHokies head to Louisiana for first-ever series against Ragin' Cajuns
Baseball

Hokies head to Louisiana for first-ever series against Ragin' Cajuns

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech baseball program heads to Lafayette, Louisiana this weekend for a three-game series with the Ragin' Cajuns. Fresh off a 10-3 home-opening victory against ETSU, the Hokies (1-2) will look to improve its record against Louisiana, who is sitting at 1-4 after a loss on Wednesday night against Tulane. Below please find information and links about the weekend series.

Virginia Tech at Louisiana - Feb. 21-23, 2020
M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park
Lafayette, Louisiana

Series History
Games: 0     Series Record: N/A
This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs. Of note, Tech's John Szefc and Louisiana's Matt Deggs faced off against each other in the final game of the RyCass Classic hosted by Stetson in DeLand, Florida (Feb. 17, 2019) when Deggs was with Sam Houston State. The Hokies won it over the Bearkats, 3-2.

Gameday Coverage
Video Broadcast (Sat. and Sun.): Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network
Audio Broadcast (all): VT/IMG Radio Network TuneIn App, online or locally on WRAD-FM 101.7
Live Stats (all): Louisiana's StatBroadcast - Game 1; Game 2; Game 3
Tech game notes: Click here

Tech in the state of Louisiana

  • The Hokies return to the state of Louisiana for the first time since the 2018 season when they played in a tournament in New Orleans hosted by the Privateers in head coach John Szefc's first season with Tech. The team went 1-2, dropping a 10-inning game to Iowa on Feb. 23 by a 2-1 count, losing 4-2 to the hosts on Feb. 24 and beating Ball State 4-2 in the second game of the day.
  • In total, Tech has played 18 games in the state and are just 5-13 in those games, including a 2-10 record on the road and a 3-3 against neutral opponents. The most common opponent for Tech has been Tulane and are 2-9 against them. The Hokies have played a total of 15 games in New Orleans, two in Baton Rouge and one in Hammond.

Home Sweet Home in February

  • Since the 2010 season, Tech is now 9-2 in home openers and have won five straight after its 10-3 victory Tuesday night over ETSU. In those five wins, the Hokies have outscored their opponents by a 40-8 count and have tossed two shutouts.
  • Tech's last home-opening loss was back on March 4, 2015 when they lost to the College of Charleston 8-3. The last time the Hokies lost a home opener in the month of February was in 2013, a 7-3 loss to Temple on Feb. 23.
  • Overall, in program history in February, Tech holds a 112-58 record (65.9%), but when it comes to playing in Blacksburg during the month, the team is far better. 
  • The Hokies have posted a 28-3 record (90.3%) in home games played in the month. Tech has won 14 straight dating back to that 2013 home opener and included a program-tying best four wins last year (2009).
  • Lastly, Tuesday was the earliest home opener for the Hokies since their first ever season of baseball. Tech played Newports in Blacksburg on Feb. 2, 1892 and had not played a home game earlier then Feb. 21 before last year - which was a 9-3 win over ETSU on Feb. 19.

2019 pitching staff turns in one of its best seasons ever

  • Last year, the Hokies enjoyed one of their most successful pitching seasons ever turned in by a Tech staff in its history since the program joined the ACC (15 years). First, the team's final overall ERA of 3.98 was the best ever in that time frame. In fact, the Hokies had not posted a sub-4.00 ERA since 1984 (3.80) - the lowest since was 4.10 in 1995. 
  • The team also finished second all-time in strikeouts (495), with the 2010 squad holding the top mark ever with 530. The previous high was 461 (1988). Below are other notables for the staff (since 2005):
  • Lowest ERA: 1. 3.98 (2019); 2. 4.14 (2013)
  • Opp. BA: 1. .243 (2019); 2. .257 (2012)
  • Most K/9: 1. 9.51 (2019); 2. 8.72 (2010)
  • Few. hits allowed: 1. 428 (2019); 2. 474 (2012)
  • Few. runs: 1. 237 (2019); 2. 263 (2012)
  • Few. earned runs: 1. 207 (2019); 2. 225 (2012)

2019 team fielding sets records, too

  • Tech fielded one of its best defensive teams ever in 2019. Its fielding percentage of .975 was four points better than the previous school record of .971 set by the 2012 squad.
  • The Hokies' 49 errors were the fewest since the team has been playing in the ACC (2012, 62).