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Friday: 4 p.m. vs. No. 18 Minnesota

Saturday: Noon vs. No. 2 Michigan // 2:30 p.m. vs. No. 18 Minnesota

Sunday: 10 a.m. vs. No. 2 Michigan

Links: Tournament Central // Game Notes

BLACKSBURG, Va. - After opening the 2016 season last weekend, the Hokies continue non- conference play at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Tallahassee, Florida. Tech will take on No. 13 Minnesota and No. 2 Michigan twice beginning Friday through Sunday.

• The Hokies began the 2016 season in Tampa, Florida with a 6-3 win over USF in the first game of the five-team tournament. Chelsea Whitcomb threw the win while also rocketing two doubles. Breanna Davenport, Katey Smith and Vanessa Gonzalez added two hits each in the opening win.

• In Tech’s first five games, four Hokies have accounted for five homeruns. Chelsea Whitcomb, Breanna Davenport, Jessie Mehr, and Vanessa Gonzalez all slugged homers against Illinois State on Feb. 13. The home run by Gonzalez was already the second of the season when she led o on Feb. 12 with her first.

• Both Katey Smith and Chelsea Whitcomb registered six hits in the opening tournament last weekend to lead the Hokies each with a .400 average.

• The Hokies’ pitching staff collected 26 strikeouts throughout opening weekend. Maggie Tyler led Tech’s pitchers with 16 strikeouts in four appearances, including when she picked up her first save of the season against USF.

• At the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament, seven freshmen made their collegiate debut, including six who earned their first starts throughout the five-game tournament.

• Chelsea Whitcomb threw 6.1 innings against 25 batters while also slugging back-to-back doubles against USF on Friday. The redshirt-freshman also played four games as shortstop making several key plays, collecting six assists and four putouts. Whitcomb recorded a hit in all but one game this weekend, totaling six in five games with four RBI.

• The Hokies showed promise despite the losses, collecting 54 total bases but leaving 31 runners on base through the five games.

• The Hokies are 39-46 against Big Ten teams with 41 of the 85 total games played were against Maryland, a former conference rival. Additionally, Tech is 107-75 when playing in the Sunshine State.

Versus No. 18 Minnesota: Virginia Tech will take on No. 18 Minnesota (3-2) twice as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Hokies lead the all-time series against the Golden Gophers, 1-0. In the only meeting between the two teams, Tech defeated Minnesota, 6-1 with all seven runs coming in the last two innings. The two met at the Myrtle Beach Chevy Chanticleer Classic on Feb. 25, 2006.

Versus No. 2 Michigan: Tech and Michigan will face for the second and third times in eight days at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Hokies take on Michigan for the premier game on Saturday at Noon then wrap up the tournament with the Wolverines on Sunday at 10 a.m. Tech trails the series against Michigan 4-6 since first meeting in 1999. Michigan was victorious in the most recent matchup on Sunday at the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament. Despite the 3-1 loss, the Hokies held the Wolverines to a mere three runs after scoring 27 on their first two opponents of the tournament.

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