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Baseball

Hokies open 2019 at RyCass Classic in DeLand, Florida

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech baseball program will open its 126th season, and second under head coach John Szefc, this upcoming Friday in the RyCass Classic in DeLand, Florida. The Hokies will face the host Stetson Hatters in their season opener at 7 p.m. before facing Manhattan on Saturday and Sam Houston State on Sunday. Below please find information and links about the weekend tournament.

Virginia Tech at RyCass Classic - February 15-17, 2019 
Melching Field at Conrad Park - DeLand, Florida
Tournament Central Link 
Tech game notes: Link

Gameday Information

Friday - 7 p.m. at Stetson Hatters

Saturday - 1 p.m. vs. Manhattan Jaspers

Sunday - 10:30 a.m. vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats

Tech in season openers: 

  • The Hokies have posted a 63-60-2 record in their previous 125 season openers. The last time a Tech season opener was played at home was in 1995, and in the 23 years since, the Hokies have gone 12-11 - with 11 of those games being played in South Carolina, seven in North Carolina, three in Georgia, one in Virginia and one in Florida.
  • In the school's 125-year history, Tech has opened the season in the state of Florida just once, back in the 2004 season. The Hokies took part in a season-opening tournament in DeLand that year as well, and suffered a 15-2 loss in the opener to the host Stetson Hatters on Friday, Feb. 27. Tech split its final two games, beating South Florida, 4-3, before dropping a 2-0 contest to Oklahoma State.

The Hokies in the Sunshine State: 

  • This weekend will mark the first of three trips for Tech to the state of Florida - as the Hokies will return to face Florida State in March and Miami in April. Their nine games in the Sunshine State will be the most since the 1996 season, when Tech played nine there as well - three at South Florida and six in Winter Park, but managed to go just 1-8 record in that span.
  • The Hokies have played 10 or more games in a single season in the state of Florida on three occasions, playing 11 in both 1994 - eight in DeLand, three in Tampa and the team went 6-5; and 1980 - seven in DeLand, four in Tallahassee (Metro Tourney) and the team went 7-4. In 1986, Tech played 10 games, going 3-7, in eight games in DeLand and two in the Metro Tourney in Tallahassee.
  • Overall, Tech has compiled a 51-99 record in 150 games in the Sunshine State - which included a 3-2 record last year in DeLand. The Hokies are only 14-65 on the road, but hold a 37-34 edge in neutral site contests, which includes three straight wins.

Tech against the field: 

  • Overall, against the field, Tech is 2-11 all-time, however, nine of those games are against the hosts Hatters. Versus Stetson, the Hokies are just 1-8 (all on the road) with their lone with coming on March 31, 1986 - a 5-2 decision. They have lost four in a row including a nail-biter last season on March 2 - when Logan Gilbert outdueled Connor Coward in a 2-1 contest. Against current Atlantic Sun opponents, Tech is 9-10 all-time - USC Upstate (7-0), Kennesaw State (1-1) and Lipscomb (0-1).
  • Versus Manhattan: Tech is 1-0, playing its only game against the Jaspers on Feb. 28, 2016 and winning that 12-7. Then-freshman Nic Enright started the contest and went 3.0 innings with three strikeouts. It was the second start of his career. Luke Scherzer (listed a junior at the time) is the only other Hokie on Tech's roster in that game. Against current MAAC schools, Tech is 15-6 - Niagara (4-1), Marist (3-0), Quinnipiac (3-1), Canisius (2-0) and Rider (2-4).
  • Versus Sam Houston State: This is the first meeting between the two schools, but Tech has played two current Southland teams, but are 0-3 - losing twice to New Orleans and once to SE Louisiana.