No. 11 Virginia Tech welcomes Radford for Tuesday tilt

No. 11 Virginia Tech (5-2, 0-0 ACC) 
vs. Radford (2-5, 0-0 Big South)

Tuesday, Feb. 28
English Field at AUBP
1 p.m. ET
Virginia Tech Sports Network

BLACKSBURG – Prepping to host its regional rival, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team (5-2, 0-0 ACC) will look to continue its strong start to the season on Tuesday, Feb. 28, when Tech clashes with Radford (2-5, 0-0 Big South) at 1 p.m.
 
Tuesday's game between the Hokies and the Highlanders will air live on ACC Network Extra. Fans may also listen to the game as called by the voice of Tech baseball, Evan Hughes, on the Virginia Tech Sports Network.

PROBABLE STARTERS
• Tuesday:  Nick Finarelli (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Foster Seitz (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
 HAMMERIN' HEADLINES

• Winning three of its four home games last week, Virginia Tech slid up three positions in D1Baseball's top 25 on Monday, coming in at No. 11, precisely where Tech had finished the 2022 season. The Hokies have now spent 11 consecutive poll cycles ranked within D1Baseball's top 15.
• Among the nation's other leading polls, Tech received improving praise from USA TODAY Sports (No. 11), Baseball America (No. 13), the NCBWA (No. 14) and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (No. 28) while retaining its No. 15 ranking from Perfect Game.
• Virginia Tech has scored 10-plus runs during four of its five victories this season. The Hokies begin the week ranked in a tie for 36th nationally in scoring (9.4 runs per game) – the eighth highest mark among ACC programs.
• As a team, Tech batted 14-for-37 (.378) during its first midweek outing of the season when it rolled to the 15-5 win against ETSU. Despite swinging only three extra-base hits against the Buccaneers, the Hokies put up four crooked numbers and remained perfect, 4-for-4, in stolen base attempts.
• On the base paths, Virginia Tech is 10-for-13 this season and has twice executed double steals of second base and home to score runs.
• Fifth-year outfielder Chris Cannizzaro batted .474 (9-for-19) with a double, a triple and three home runs last week for Tech, garnerning placement among Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's National Players of the Week. Cannizzaro became the Hokies' first player since 2021 to hit for the cycle during Sunday's 15-8 victory against Bryant, achieving the feat during his first four plate appearances by the sixth inning.
• Seven Tech players have accounted for the team's 11 home runs: Chris Cannizzaro (three), Eddie Eisert (three), Carson DeMartini, Brody Donay, Gehrig Ebel, Jack Hurley and Garrett Michel.

MIDWEEK STARTER

• Rookie right-hander Nick Finarelli is projected to make his first collegiate start and appearance for Virginia Tech on Tuesday.
• Finarelli was a four-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Lake-Lehman High School (Lehman, Pennsylvania), where he co-led the Knights to four district titles, conference titles and state tournament appearances. He served as team captain during his senior 2022 season.
• During his final four high school starts at Lake-Lehman, Finarelli logged four complete game shutouts.
• The 6-foot-4 native of Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania, was widely recruited, selecting Virginia Tech ahead of three ACC programs – Miami, Pitt and Wake Forest – in addition to Penn State, South Florida and West Virginia.

ALL-TIME SERIES

• Virginia Tech has won six consecutive series meetings against Radford, including two home-and-home matchups against the Highlanders during the course of the 2022 season.
• Tech holds an active seven-game home winning streak against Radford at English Field.
• The Hokies lead the all-time series against the Highlanders, 51-15.
• Fifth-year shortstop David Bryant transferred to Virginia Tech after playing four seasons at Radford, where he started 143 of his 148 career appearances. Bryant batted .306 with the Highlanders, racking up 157 hits, 29 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 94 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.

UP NEXT

• No. 11 Virginia Tech will host Charlotte during a three-game series beginning on Friday, March 3, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch between the Hokies and the 49ers is scheduled for 2 p.m.
• Tech's season-opening home stand features 13 games at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park beginning Feb. 21 and running through Tech's ACC-opening series against Boston College (March 10-12). Admission during non-conference games is free.
• Tickets to Virginia Tech's five ACC regular season home series against Boston College (March 10-12), Virginia (March 31-April 2), Georgia Tech (April 14-16), North Carolina (April 28-30) and Clemson (May 12-14) are still available at all pricing options. Purchase your tickets today.
• Fans, before making your way to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park this season, consider reviewing the ballpark's 2023 Visitors Guide.