Hokies baseball to kick off 2022 with UNC Asheville

BLACKSBURG – Arriving at the start of its 129th all-time season, the Virginia Tech baseball team (0-0) will look to open its spring 2022 campaign in winning fashion when Tech entertains UNC Asheville (0-0) for a three-game series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park (Feb. 18-20).
 

 
PROBABLE STARTERS
• Friday:  Griffin Green (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Ryan Douglas (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Saturday:  Ryan Okuda (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Jacob Edwards (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Sunday:  Drue Hackenberg (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Bryce Fisher (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

ENGLISH FIELD VISITORS GUIDE
Click here to review the 2022 English Field Visitors Guide to access information on ballpark access, cashless concession stands, fan-friendly concession pricing, alcohol sales, clear bag policies, indoor mask mandates, gameday parking and more.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW
• Opening Day:  For only the third known time during its 130-year program history – and the second consecutive season – Virginia Tech will begin the regular season from the confines of its home ballpark as the Hokies prepare to welcome UNC Asheville to Blacksburg. Tech is 65-61-2 all-time on Opening Day, having sported a 9-8 record since joining the ACC in 2005 (2-2 under fifth-year head coach John Szefc). Starting Friday, the Hokies will kick off their longest season-opening home stand to date as Tech will compete in 12 consecutive games at English Field stretching from now until March 8. Considering series history, the Hokies are 2-0 all-time against this year's Opening Day opponent, having picked up two neutral-site victories against UNC Asheville during the 2007 and 2009 seasons.

• Hokies Are Back:  Virginia Tech has the potential to remain among the best offenses in the ACC this season as the Hokies retain all but five of their 17 position players that saw the field a year ago. Headlining Tech's lineup is Gavin Cross, a five-time 2022 Preseason All-American and Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list mention. Cross, who represented the Hokies on the 2021 All-ACC First Team, the ACC All-Freshman Team and the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team last year, will join shortstop Tanner Schobel, outfielder Jack Hurley and utility veteran Nick Biddison as some of the core pieces to Tech's offensive package. On the mound, the Hokies will rely on some new arms to make up for the loss of four professional draftees/signees, but are looking to build on the 2021 season that saw Tech set the school record for team strikeouts (562). Right-hand sophomore Griffin Green and fifth-year lefty Ryan Okuda will toe the rubber for the Hokies this weekend alongside seasoned reliever Graham Firoved (2021: 3-0, three saves) and a cast of maturing arms like sophomore left-hander Grant Umberger.

• New Faces:  Tech's 2022 roster is stacked with newcomer talent ranging from true freshmen to experienced transfers. Seven Hokies were named to Perfect Game's list of the Top ACC Incoming Freshmen: two-way, right-hand pitcher Tyler Dean (No. 10), right-hand pitcher Drue Hackenberg (No. 81), infielder Carson DeMartini (No. 83), infielder Christian Martin (No. 112), catcher Dylan Hatfield (No. 138), left-hand pitcher Marcus Dux (No. 157) and right-hand pitcher Luke Jackman (No. 170). Among Tech's transfers, the Hokies are now stocked with fifth-year left-hand pitcher Sean Fisher (Maryland), fifth-year outfielder Conor Hartigan (James Madison), fifth-year infielder Eduardo Malinowski (Pennsylvania), fifth-year right-hand pitcher Jordan Geber (Mount St. Mary's), fifth-year left-hand pitcher Ryan Kennedy and fifth-year right-hand pitcher Kiernan Higgins (Shippensburg).

UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will contest its first midweek game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 22, when the Hokies welcome ETSU to English Field. Tuesday's game will air live on ACC Network Extra with coverage beginning at 4 p.m.