BLACKSBURG – Starting 8-3 during the early non-conference portion of its schedule, the Virginia Tech baseball team looks to carry its red-hot hitting into ACC play when the Hokies welcome in Notre Dame for a three-game league series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park (March 8-10).
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Tech arrives at its conference opening weekend having already found success against Charlotte, Rhode Island and Stony Brook. The winning recipe for the Hokies should be the same against the Fighting Irish.
Virginia Tech's season-opening series at Charlotte was highlighted by consecutive 10-run showings against the 49ers, including its combined shutout victory on Opening Day. Though denied the three-game road sweep to begin the year, the Hokies carried their momentum into play against Rhode Island, bringing out the brooms and sporting three wins by the combined 39-7 scoring margin.
Tech showcased its ability to score in bunches, bookending its series sweep of the Rams with its 18-run performance on Friday and its 14-run outing on Sunday. The Hokies went on to plate another 14 runs in victory on Feb. 27 at Radford.
"That's really what's supposed to happen," said head coach John Szefc, when asked about the strength of his roster.
Virginia Tech's lineup is once again stacked with contributors this season, making the Hammerin' Hokies as formidable as they have ever been in the box.
"We know how good our lineup is, top to bottom, one through nine," said sixth-year outfielder Chris Cannizzaro. "It's an unbelievable lineup with guys who can do so many different things."
Offensive prowess did not slow for the Hokies during the final two games of their series against Rhode Island as they slugged their way to the sweep.
And while Tech's bats were raking, its arms were peppering the strike zone.
Through the first three weeks of the season, the Hokies' starting trio of Brett Renfrow, Wyatt Parliament and Griffin Stieg have united for a 5-1 record, a 2.95 ERA and a 4.2 strikeout-per-walk ratio. Tech's bullpen has also been excellent in relief; together, Tech's pitching staff heads into ACC play riding a streak of seven consecutive games allowing five runs or fewer.
Renfrow, three starts into his career donning orange and maroon, believes he has found his place with the Hokies.
"These guys make you feel at home," Renfrow described. "They [teach] us how to be."
Tech's true freshman right-hander currently leads the squad in strikeouts (19) and ranks among the top 10 ACC hurlers in ERA (1.69). He was incredibly effective during last Friday's series opener against Stony Brook, an opponent that had dropped No. 3 LSU the week prior.
Renfrow commanded on the mound, dealing six scoreless innings, leaving the offense room to chalk the 6-3 win. The Hokies' competitive energy spilled into Saturday, where Cannizzaro, Eddie Micheletti Jr. and Sam Tackett combined to bat 8-for-13, leading Tech to the convincing, 11-5 win.
Despite missing the sweep on Sunday, Virginia Tech is geared up for its first ACC series against a tricky test in Notre Dame. The Irish are two seasons removed from their trip to Omaha at the 2022 Men's College World Series and traditionally stack up well against the Hokies.
Notre Dame boasts a five-game winning streak, having suffered its only two losses to Florida International inside multi-game sweeps of Rice and Tennessee Tech.
Game times between the Hokies and the Irish are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday (previously 4 p.m.), 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.