BLACKSBURG – Opening its season this weekend, Virginia Tech baseball will start 2021 by playing host to Kent State on Sunday in a two-game series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Stadium, with both games being broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
The Hokies and Golden Flashes will meet for the first time since 2013. Tech has won three in a row and is 5-3 at home.
The Hokies have posted a 64-61-2 record in their previous 127 season openers. Tech head coach John Szefc is 1-2 in season openers at Tech.
Since 1996, this will only be Tech's second time opening the year at home.
ON THE CALL
The matchup will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with Bailey Angle (play-by-play) and Andrew Wells on the call Sunday, while Evan Hughes will broadcast on Virginia Tech Sports Network.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Sun. | 11 a.m. ET vs. Kent State | Watch | Stats
Sun. | 2:30 p.m. ET vs. Kent State | Watch | Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Hokies jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to future MLB Draft pick Carson Taylor getting two RBIs and would not look back to win 5-3 over George Mason on March 11, 2020 at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park in its last game of the regular season before COVID-19 implications ended the year.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Gavin Cross enters his second year in Blacksburg after posting a .369 batting average, ranking as the second best on the team. That batting average also ranked as the seventh best among Power Five freshmen, including the third highest in the ACC. Cross, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound outfielder, was named a 2020 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American last year.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
2020 Record: 7-7 (0-0 MAC)
Head Coach: Jeff Duncan (225-126, 7th season)
All-time series: 8-3
The Golden Flashes finished fifth in the MAC standings last season with a 7-7 record. Kent State led the MAC in doubles per game with 2.00, which ranked 47th nationally.