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Baseball

Virginia Tech to pick up midweek action with Liberty

Virginia Tech Notes

Virginia Tech (18-11, 5-9 ACC) 
vs. Liberty (14-17, 6-6 Atlantic Sun) 

Tuesday, April 11
English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park
7 p.m. ET
ACC Network Extra
Virginia Tech Sports Network


BLACKSBURG – Resuming midweek play, the Virginia Tech baseball team (18-11, 5-9 ACC) will open a four-game home stand on Tuesday, April 11, when it welcomes Liberty (14-17, 6-6 Atlantic Sun) to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
 
Tuesday's game between the Hokies and the Flames will air live on ACC Network Extra with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. Fans may also listen to Tuesday's game as called by the voice of Tech baseball, Evan Hughes, on the Virginia Tech Sports Network.

PROBABLE STARTERS
• Tuesday:  TBD vs. TBD
 MIDWEEK MANIA

  • Virginia Tech is 6-0 during midweek games this season. The Hokies have combined to outscore their midweek opponents by the 81-22 margin, averaging 14.88 runs per nine innings while their opponents have plated 3.67 runs per nine innings.
  • Each of Tech's three grand slams hit during the 2023 season have fallen during midweek action: Carson DeMartini (Feb. 21 against ETSU), Carson Jones (Feb. 28 against Radford), Garrett Michel (March 22 against VMI).
  • The "Hammerin' Hokies" have hit 15 midweek home runs this season, including their back-to-back-to-back combination at VMI on March 28 (Garrett Michel, Jack Hurley, Carson DeMartini). Tech's opponents have combined to swing three home runs – none since Robert Gallagher's three-run homer on March 8 against UMass Lowell (19 and two-thirds innings).
  • Offensively, Virginia Tech is batting .389 and slugging .681 during midweek play this season with a .491 on-base percentage. The Hokies are led by Carson DeMartini (.619 batting average, 13-for-21), Clay Grady (.600, 9-for-15), Henry Cooke (.500, 7-for-14) and Chris Cannizzaro (.478, 11-for-23).
  • On the mound, the Hokies have toed a 3.67 ERA against midweek competition, as anchored by Kiernan Higgins (0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP), Grant Umberger (1.29 ERA, 7.0 IP) and Andrew Sentlinger (1.29 ERA, 7.0 IP).

 

SERIES HISTORY

  • Virginia Tech swept its 2022 season series against Liberty, cracking the win column against the Flames for the first time since 2018. Tech topped Liberty, 10-6, in Lynchburg (April 12) before walking off the Flames, 2-1, at English Field (May 11).
  • Tech's April 2022 win at Liberty was dominated by scoring runs. After the Hokies had opened with four runs during the top of the fourth inning, the Flames rallied for four runs during the fifth inning to tie (4-4) before Tech scored the next six runs on its way to the 10-6 victory.
  • In May 2022, Virginia Tech overcame its 1-0 deficit during the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off Liberty, 2-1. With two outs, Eduardo Malinowski singled in Tanner Schobel to tie the game – three batters before Lucas Donlon connected on the game-winning, walk-off single that provided the Hokies with their second consecutive walk-off victory.
  • Since joining the ACC, Virginia Tech is 15-9 against Liberty, holding the 8-5 advantage in Blacksburg.
  • Under head coach John Szefc, the Hokies are 3-4 against the Flames (1-2 during one-run ballgames).

 

UP NEXT

  • Virginia Tech will host a three-game ACC series against Georgia Tech beginning on Friday, April 14. First pitch between the Hokies and the Yellow Jackets at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 7 p.m.
  • Tickets to Virginia Tech's three remaining ACC regular season home series against 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.