Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Due to the weather forecasted for the mid-Atlantic region this weekend, an agreement was made to switch the UNC Greensboro-Virginia Tech baseball series to Blacksburg. The now two-game series will be contested at English Field at Union Park starting on Sunday at 1 p.m. and will conclude with a Monday contest, also starting at 1 p.m. Due to the rain currently falling in the area, Saturday's game has been cancelled.
Virginia Tech vs. UNC Greensboro
Feb. 24-25, 2019
English Field at Union Park
Blacksburg, Virginia
Gameday Links
Stats (both games): http://vthoki.es/19BB-LiveStats
Audio (both games): http://vthoki.es/19BB-LiveAudio
Video: WatchESPN - Game 1; Game 2
Tech Game Notes (PDF)
UNCG Game Notes (PDF)
Facing the Spartans: The Hokies have not played a game against UNC Greensboro since the 1993 season, a 7-5 victory on March 21, 1993, the only game of the series played in Blacksburg. Tech holds the all-time mark with a 4-1 record against the Spartans, winning twice in Greensboro (Feb. 29-March 1, 1992) and splitting a pair in Statesboro, Georgia (March 13-14, 1992).
Home Sweet Home in February: On Tuesday, Tech played its home opener against ETSU and won the contest 9-3, improving to 21-3 at home during the month of February and includes winning eight straight dating back to the 2013 season, a 7-3 loss to Temple on Feb. 23 in that year's home opener.
During its eight-game home win streak in the month, Tech has outscored its opposition by a 69 to 27 count, including an 11-0 shutout of ETSU on Feb. 23, 2016.
The eight straight wins is the longest ever stretch at the school, surpassing the Hokies' seven straight at home during the month of February from Feb. 25, 2009 through Feb, 26, 2011.
Jumping out early: In its win on Tuesday, Tech scored seven first-inning runs en route to the victory. So far during the 2019 season, the Hokies have outscored its opponents 15-0 in the first inning (4 in the first vs. Manhattan and 2 in the first at Stetson and versus Sam Houston State). With the early leads, the Hokies have not trailed during the season.
And staying ahead: Much credit for never trailing this season also goes to the Tech pitching staff, especially the starters, who have combined to throw a total of 17.0 innings, have allowed just two runs (one earned), struck out16 batters and hold a 0.94 WHIP.
4-0 start for Hokies & Szefc: Tech has raced out to a 4-0 record to start the season, its best start since the 2017 season, when the Hokies opened 5-0 and were 8-1 after nine games. In its 126-year history, a Tech team has started the year 5-0 just nine times and each of those seasons, except 2017, the team finished at least 10 games over the .500 mark.
For head coach John Szefc, at his previous stop in Maryland, the 2015 squad was his only team there to start 4-0. The Terrapins lost their fifth game of that season, but finished with a 42-24 record.