Tech welcomes VMI to English Field at Union Park

Over next 10 days, Hokies will play three non-conference games

May 1, 2018

This week's Gameday Information

Tuesday 6 p.m. - Virginia Tech (18-26) at VMI (23-20) - English Field at Union Park
Stats: Link
Audio: Link
Video: Link

Wednesday 6 p.m. - Virginia Tech at Liberty (26-16) - Lynchburg, Virginia
Stats: Link
Audio: Link
Video: Link (ESPN+)

The next 10 days and beyond: Starting today, the Hokies will play just three games over the next 10 days, hosting VMI at English Field at Union Park tonight, 6 p.m. start, then heading up the road on Wednesday to face Liberty, also a 6 p.m. first pitch. Tech will take the next six days off from competition for finals before heading to Morgantown, West Virginia next Wednesday for a game with the Mountaineers. The Hokies will conclude their home slate with an ACC series versus Miami (May 11-13) and a home date with William & Mary (May15).

Hokies versus VMI: In one of its oldest rivalries - the teams first played May 15, 1897, a Tech 18-1 win in Roanoke - Tech and VMI will play its second game over the last six days, as the Hokies dropped a 9-7 decision to the Keydets last Wednesday up in Lexington. Despite the walk-off loss, the Hokies own the series with an overall mark of 128-49-1, which is the most wins Tech has against any other opponent. The next closest are Virginia (86 wins), William & Mary (81) and Richmond (70). Tech is also 71-17-1 at home and 15-2 at English Field at Union Park. The Virginia series at 187 total games played is the most versus any opponent followed by the VMI series (178). CLICK HERE for the entire series game-by-game history.

Who’s hot at home: Tom Stoffel, who enters the game with 199 career hits, is Tech’s hottest hitter at home. He leads the team in almost every offensive category, including batting average (.362), slugging (.594), on-base percentage (.436), hits (25), triples (2) and RBI (16). Sam Fragale takes the top mark for doubles (8), Jack Owens has runs (14), while JD Mundy has hit four home runs at English Field at Union Park.
Andrew McDonald (2.30), Ian Seymour (2.49) and Connor Coward (2.51) all sport below a 3.00 ERA, while Hayden Heflin (3.60) and Joey Sullivan (3.65) are the only other two with 10-plus innings pitched and sub-4.00 ERA. Coward leads the pack in innings (28.2) and strikeouts (35).

Who’s heating up: Over the last 10 games, no player is better at the plate for the Hokies than Sam Fragale. He comes in with a .372 average, is slugging .628 and has a .413 on-base percentage. He leads the team with 10 runs, 16 hits, five doubles, two home runs (tied), 10 RBI (tied) and 27 total bases. Also with plus-.300 averages over the span are Luke Horanski (.367) and Stevie Mangrum (.323), while Mangrum leads the team in on-base percentage (.475) as he adds nine walks to his 10 hits, two of which are home runs.
​Joey Sullivan has been the best arm (min. 6.0 IP), with a 2.84 ERA in six appearances, while Seymour, in three starts, is the only other pitcher with a sub-5.00 ERA and leads the team in innings (15.0) and strikeouts (13).

Hokies versus Liberty: In a series that started back in 1979 and has seen the two teams face each other at least once a year every season, except last year, the Hokies hold a 39-26 edge. However, Tech lost the previous meeting between the two schools this season, back on March 27 - 4-3 in 10 innings at English Field at Union Park. On the road, the Hokies still have the upperhand with a 15-12 mark, and have won the last three in Lynchburg, including the last matchup, 11-10, in an epic comeback (Full recap HERE). Trailing 10-2 entering the eighth, the Hokies scored eight times in the frame capped by Tom Stoffel’s two-out, three-RBI double and Sam Fragale’s ninth-inning single delivered the game winner. In a relief appearance, Nic Enright picked up his first collegiate win. CLICK HERE for the entire series game-by-game history.

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