Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – One of four unbeaten programs remaining in the ACC, the Virginia Tech baseball team (7-0) will ready itself for a sharp non-conference test at home this weekend when the Hokies face Wright State (0-6) during a three-game series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park (March 4-6).
| SERIES SCHEDULE | |||||
| Day | Date | Time | Opponent | Network | Radio |
| Fri. | March 4 | 2 p.m. | Wright State | ACCNX | WRAD-FM 101.7 |
| Sat. | March 5 | 2 p.m. | Wright State | ACCNX | WRAD-FM 101.7 |
| Sun. | March 6 | 1 p.m. | Wright State | ACCNX | WRAD-FM 101.7 |
PROBABLE STARTERS
• Friday: Griffin Green (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Aaron Ernst (0-1, 24.00 ERA)
• Saturday: Ryan Okuda (1-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Jake Shirk (0-1, 9.39 ERA)
• Sunday: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Sebastian Gongora (0-0, 5.63 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
• Lucky Seventh: Virginia Tech's 10-4 win against High Point on Tuesday marked its grittiest win of the season as the Hokies rallied for seven late-inning runs to break away from a 3-3 ballgame in the seventh inning. Cade Hunter's go-ahead, RBI single was one of only three run-scoring hits Tech produced during its midweek victory as the Hokies managed to scrape across runs from a bases-loaded walk, three sacrifice flies and three wild pitches. Offensively, Tech racked up double-digit hits (10) for the seventh consecutive game, slugging five or more extra-base hits for the fifth time to start the season. Carson DeMartini checked off three parts of the cycle while Nick Biddison and Tanner Schobel united to steal five bags, resulting in the Hokies' best day on the base paths. Jonah Hurney collected his first victory of the 2022 season, sandwiching three strikeouts in relief around Tech's five-run seventh inning.
• Quality Opposition: Despite entering this weekend's non-conference series winless, Wright State packs a powerful punch, having held three late-inning leads this year against No. 21 Georgia Tech (two) and No. 4 Oklahoma State. Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Alex Sogard, the Raiders have sported an 89-23 record, won two Horizon League regular season titles and championed the 2021 conference tournament. In the 2021 NCAA Knoxville Regional, Wright State took an 8-5 lead into the ninth inning against the No. 3 overall seed, Tennessee, though were walked off by the Volunteers on Drew Gilbert's towering grand slam. Friday's series opener will mark the first all-time meeting between the Hokies and the Raiders. Tech head coach John Szefc is opposing Wright State for the first time since 1999 when his Marist club lost a 9-2 decision in Homestead, Florida.
• Recipe for Success: Balance, depth and consistency have been the keys to Virginia Tech's 7-0 record that has tied for John Szefc's longest season-opening winning streak in Blacksburg. Of the five Hokies who have started all seven games this season, each are batting north of .340 and slugging greater than .600, helping Tech place among the top 10 NCAA Division I programs in both categories (.365 and .691, respectively). On the mound, the Hokies have blanked their opponents during more than 80 percent of their defensive innings, committing three errors to rank 12th nationally in fielding percentage (.988). Tech's pitching staff has also done its duty in limiting free bases, entering the weekend as a top-25 unit in fewest walks per nine innings (2.71).
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will close its 11-game, season-opening home stand on Tuesday, March 8, when Tech welcomes East Carolina to Blacksburg for a meaningful midweek contest. First pitch at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 4 p.m.