Virginia Tech (29-19, 11-15 ACC)
at No. 1 Wake Forest (43-8, 20-6 ACC)
at No. 1 Wake Forest (43-8, 20-6 ACC)
BLACKSBURG – In control of its own destiny, the Virginia Tech baseball team (29-19, 11-15 ACC) will make its final push for the 2023 ACC Baseball Championship this week when the Hokies set out to topple No. 1 Wake Forest (43-8, 20-6 ACC) during the teams’ season-closing ACC series at David F. Couch Ballpark in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (May 18-20).
Thursday through Saturday’s games will air live on ACC Network Extra with coverage beginning at 6 p.m., 6 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. Fans may also listen to all three games as called by the voice of Tech baseball, Evan Hughes, on the Virginia Tech Sports Network.
PROBABLE STARTERS
• Thursday: TBD vs. TBD
• Friday: TBD vs. TBD
• Saturday: TBD vs. TBD
WHAT’S AT STAKE
- Entering the final week of the regular season, Virginia Tech (11-15 ACC) controls the 10th best record in the ACC, seeking qualification into the 12-team field at the 2023 ACC Baseball Championship.
- The Hokies’ easiest path to the conference tournament revolves around their magic number with Louisville, which is down to one. As such, Tech can clinch a tournament berth with any win against Wake Forest, or any defeat by the Cardinals this week against Florida State.
- Virginia Tech’s postseason fate is not entirely dependent on Louisville; the 10th-place Hokies lead 11th-place Pitt (10-15 ACC) by a half game and 12th-place NC State (10-16 ACC) by one game with the Wolfpack hosting the Panthers during their final ACC acts. Although Tech does not own the head-to-head tiebreaker against Pitt, the Hokies could potentially own the head-to-head tiebreaker against NC State under the condition that North Carolina or Virginia are the highest placing common opponent at the end of the regular season.
- Through games completed on Tuesday, Virginia Tech ranks No. 53 in the NCAA Division I Baseball RPI and carries its strength of schedule at No. 48 in the country. The Hokies are 8-12 against the RPI top 50 and 18-17 against the RPI top 100 this season while about to add three games against Wake Forest (RPI No. 2).
- Currently in his 18th head coaching season, John Szefc is one win away from leading his 12th career team to 30 or more victories (his second such accomplishment at Virginia Tech). The Hokies are also one win shy of achieving back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since the 2012 and 2013 campaigns.
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