BLACKSBURG – Having won eight of its last nine games, the Virginia Tech baseball team (18-7, 5-5 ACC) will set out to claim its fourth consecutive ACC series this weekend when it welcomes No. 21 NC State (18-9, 6-5 ACC) to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park for a three-game series (April 8-10).
Friday through Sunday's games will air live on ACC Network Extra with coverage beginning at 7 p.m., 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Fans may also tune into WRAD-FM 101.7 to listen to the game as called by the play-by-play voice of Tech baseball, Evan Hughes.
| SERIES SCHEDULE | |||||
| Day | Date | Time | Opponent | Network | Radio |
| Fri. | April 8 | 7 p.m. | NC State | ACCNX | WRAD-FM 101.7 |
| Sat. | April 9 | 3 p.m. | NC State | ACCNX | WRAD-FM 101.7 |
| Sun. | April 10 | 1 p.m. | NC State | ACCNX | WRAD-FM 101.7 |
PROBABLE STARTERS
• Friday: Griffin Green (3-1, 3.58 ERA) vs. Logan Whitaker (1-1, 1.82 ERA)
• Saturday: Drue Hackenberg (5-0, 2.37 ERA) vs. Matt Willadsen (1-2, 5.40 ERA)
• Sunday: TBD vs. TBD
ENGLISH FIELD VISITORS GUIDE
Click here to review the 2022 English Field Visitors Guide to access information on ballpark access, ticketing plans & pricing, mobile & cashless ticketing, cashless concession stands, fan-friendly concession pricing, alcohol sales, clear bag policies, gameday parking and more.
TICKETED ADMISSION
Tickets are required for admission to Virginia Tech's five ACC home series this season, including this weekend's three-game series against NC State. All ticket transactions at English Field are cashless and will require a charge card for purchase.
Fans may present season tickets from their 15- or 10-ticket Flex Plans (click here to learn more information regarding season tickets), or purchase individual tickets that are priced at $10 (tickets for youth ages 6 to 18 are $5; children ages 5 and under are free). Virginia Tech students receiving tickets through the student lottery portal may access home games for free.
Upon entry, seating inside English Field is general admission. Click here to enter Tech's ticketing portal.
SERIES PROMOTIONS
Click here to review promotions and gameday experience elements for Tech's three-game home series against NC State, including Saturday's Harry Potter Day theme (first fans through the English Field gates will receive a free beanie) and Sunday's Kids Run the Bases.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
• Tech's .400 Club: Virginia Tech is one of seven NCAA Division I programs equipped with two or more qualifying hitters who are batting .400 or higher this season (Jack Hurley – .464, Cade Hunter – .409). Hurley pulls into Tech's series against NC State swinging one of the hottest bats in America. The Hokies' cleanup outfielder leads the nation in batting average while ranking second in slugging percentage (.928) and third in OPS (1.459). With 13 doubles, a triple and 10 home runs to his name, Hurley played his way onto the 2022 Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, which gave a snapshot of the 45 high school or college athletes whose accolades best aligned with being named this year's top U.S. amateur baseball player. On Thursday, he was named to D1Baseball's Midseason All-America Team, of which seven of the 19 selections hailed from the ACC. Hurley and Hunter have safely reached base during each of their 24 respective appearances this season with Hurley turning in an active 24-game hitting streak that ties for Tech's ACC-era record with Steve Domecus (2009). Hunter has raised his batting average by 55 points across his last six games, during which he has hit 13-for-23 (.565), launched three home runs and totaled 10 RBIs.
• Hokie Hurlers: Overshadowed by its red-hot offensive performance last week, Virginia Tech's starting pitching tandem of sophomore Griffin Green and rookie Drue Hackenberg was a key reason why the Hokies were able to secure their first-ever away series win at No. 18 North Carolina. Together, Green and Hackenberg combined to toss 11 innings against the ranked Tar Heels without conceding an earned run, picking up two winning decisions that delivered the Hokies their fourth and fifth consecutive ACC victories. Through his first six collegiate starts and seven appearances this season, Hackenberg has toed a 5-0 record and a 2.37 ERA, having struck out 33 batters and issued five walks. While not a dominate strikeout staff, Tech's hurlers have still been effective, moving into the conference's pack of seven teams with ERAs below 4.00. The Hokies have also allowed the league's second fewest walks (97) this season, as well as conceded its second fewest home runs (18).
• Series Perspective: As it did against No. 18 North Carolina last weekend, Virginia Tech is looking to stage a historic weekend against No. 21 NC State on its home turf. The Hokies have yet to defeat the Wolfpack during a multi-game series, coming up winless during their 11 ACC regular season tries since joining the league in 2005. Tech has fared well against ranked teams this season, posting a 3-4 record against D1Baseball top 25 opponents, including two one-run defeats in March while beginning its ACC schedule at No. 13 Georgia Tech. Offensively, the Hokies trump the Wolfpack in nearly all offensive categories, maintaining a slight head-to-head lead in ERA and a healthy advantage in fielding percentage.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will pay an in-state visit to Liberty on Tuesday, April 12. First pitch between the Hokies and the Flames at the Liberty Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.