Tech to face #3 UNC in final home ACC weekend series of 2017

Series will now start on Saturday with a doubleheader at Noon

May 11, 2017

The weekend series: The Hokies host their final ACC weekend against the third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, a series that now starts on Saturday with a doubleheader at Noon. Sunday's game will begin at 1 p.m. with pregame festivities of honoring Tech's five seniors starting at approximately 12:35 p.m.
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WEEKEND SERIES INFORMATION
Virginia Tech vs. #3 North Carolina
May 13-14, 2017
English Field at Union Park
Blacksburg, Virginia

Gameday Links
Saturday, May 13 - Noon (DH)
VIDEO (Game 1 only)
AUDIO
LIVE STATS

Sunday, May 14 - 1 p.m.
VIDEO
AUDIO
LIVE STATS

Facing the Tar Heels: The two teams have faced each other 98 times, meaning Saturday's contest will be the 100th in the series. UNC owns a 71-25-2 overall mark in the series and has a 26-11 record in Blacksburg - 2-12 at English Field at Union Park. Tech's two wins over UNC at its current home came on March 24, 2007 (6-3) and April 17, 2015 (8-3), a game won by Kit Scheetz.

Tech drops back to second in nation in home runs: The Hokies and Wake Forest have been battling back and forth recently for the nation’s lead in home runs. The Demon Deacons have taken a five-home run lead as they enter the weekend with 82, with Virginia Tech and Tennessee Tech both sitting in second place with 77.

However, when it comes to home runs per game, the Hokies are second by themselves, hitting an average of 1.60 per game with Austin Peay holding the third spot with 1.55 per game. Wake Forest still leads the nation in this category as well, hitting 1.71 per game.

Since the Hokies joined the ACC (2005), Tech has surpassed 40 home runs hit in a season six times and 50 just four times. Within reach is the most home runs hit by a Tech team in an ACC season set by the 2010 squad with 81. (For more on home runs, see page 11 of game notes).

Fragale among the nation's best in three categories: Entering the weekend, Sam Fragale is still in the top 10 in three offensive categories - as ranked by the NCAA. He leads the entire country in sacrifice flies with 11, with Georgetown's Jake Kuzbel and CSU Bakersfield's David Metzgar sitting one back with 10 each. He is also seventh in RBI (overall) and in RBI per game. Fragale has 61 for the season and has a 1.27 per game average. Wake Forest's Gavin Sheets leads the NCAA with 70 and 1.46 pg.

As of gameday, Tech now has 10 graduates on its roster: When first pitch occurs on Saturday at Noon, the Hokies will have a total of 10 players on their team that have already earned their degree at the school. Rahiem Cooper is the only one that entered the day with his diploma, having graduated last spring, while seniors Mac Caples, Matt Dauby, Kit Scheetz and Ryan Tufts picked theirs up Friday morning. These five men will be honored on Sunday during a pregame "Senior Day" ceremony. Tech also has five redshirt-juniors who graduated on Friday and that list includes Nick Anderson, Sam Fragale, Garrett Hudson, Aaron McGarity and Luke Scherzer.

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