GREENSBORO, N.C. – After hammering five home runs during his first week back in the starting lineup since mid-March, Virginia Tech third-year sophomore Carson Jones has been named the ACC Co-Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday.
Beginning the week with 11 at-bats to his name this season, Jones quite literally made the most of his return to Tech's starting nine, racking up 21 total bases on six hits – five of which left the yard as home runs. Making his first starts since March 13 at Georgia Tech, the Glen Allen, Virginia, native batted .429 (6-for-14), scored six runs and registered eight RBIs across his four appearances, reaching base nine times for a .529 on-base percentage.
On Tuesday against Kansas State, Jones homered during his first plate appearance of the week, denting the batter's eye in center field. Circling the bases for the first time during the 2022 season, he cushioned the Hokies' lead to 2-0, sending Tech on its way to the 8-2 victory against the Wildcats.
As the Hokies' designated hitter during Thursday's series opener against Duke, Jones set a season high with three hits, homering twice to will his side on to the 15-11, come-from-behind victory. Immediately after Eduardo Malinowski had tied the game at 9-9 during the fifth inning courtesy of his three-run homer, Jones crushed the ensuing pitch high to center field for the go-ahead blast that presented Tech with its final lead.
With the Hokies clinging to their 1-0 lead late against the Blue Devils on Friday, Jones dialed up the heroics yet again. In the wake of Cade Hunter's leadoff single, Jones pulled a two-run home run over his position in right field, providing Tech with the first of five late-inning runs to seal its 6-1 win.
Staying hot well through Saturday's lengthy weather delay against Duke, Jones put the cherry on top of the Hokies' ACC Coastal Division championship, unloading a three-run home run during the bottom of the seventh inning that set the game's final score at 7-2.
Jones and newly-ranked No. 2 Virginia Tech are headed to the 2022 ACC Baseball Championship as the tournament's No. 1 seed and will open pool play on Thursday, May 26, against 12th-seeded Clemson. First pitch between the Hokies and the Tigers at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina, is scheduled to 7 p.m. (third game of the session).
