No. 3 Virginia Tech to host regional for first time in program history

By Ishan Lamba

Staff Writer

May 15, 2022

BLACKSBURG — For the first time ever, the games at Tech Softball Park will have a different label: Blacksburg Regional.

After a remarkable season by the Hokies (41-7, 21-2 Atlantic Coast) — losses at Florida State and to Virginia — they will be rewarded for their efforts by earning the No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and the chance to host a regional and super regional, should they advance.

Virginia Tech entered the week ranked No. 2, but it swapped places with Florida State after the Hokies lost to Clemson in the ACC Tournament semifinals and the Seminoles took home the title in Pittsburgh.

The other three teams that will venture to Blacksburg are Saint Francis (PA), Kentucky and Miami (OH).

Tech will face Saint Francis (37-16, 20-4 Northeast) — a small Catholic school in Loretto, Pa., home to just 1,600 undergraduate students — in the opening game of the regional.

While Saint Francis is a small school compared to the sprawling Virginia Tech, the Red Flash may be tougher competition than many expect.

They finished on a 10-game winning streak, winning the Northeastern Conference Tournament and losing just one game at home.

While the level of competition the Red Flash have faced is not as tough as what they will face in Blacksburg, they have played Power Five competition close this season.

Back on February 25, Saint Francis scrapped and clawed — but ultimately lost — to then-No. 14 Clemson, 2-0, surrendering the two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

While Tech is expected to handle them with ease, don’t be surprised if Saint Francis can give the Hokies some fits.

Miami (OH) (39-15-1, 24-5 MAC) won its conference tournament and finished the season 15-2-1. A team getting hot at the right time can be dangerous in May and June, and the RedHawks are red hot.

Miami (OH) faced Virginia Tech early in the year, losing 8-0, but has also faced Kentucky mid-season, scoring a 7-5 victory.

The Wildcats (35-17, 13-11 SEC) will be the RedHawks’ first opponent in the regional.

They had a topsy-turvy ending to the season, getting swept by then-unranked Missouri and exiting in the first round of the SEC Tournament in a big loss against Florida. But they also collected dominant results down the stretch, including quite a few run-rule wins.

Should the Wildcats get past Miami (OH), they’ll likely face the Hokies, a team who they also faced earlier this season, a game Tech won 6-1.

Not only will Virginia Tech host a regional, but should the team advance out of the group, a Super Regional would also be played in Blacksburg.

The group that the Blacksburg regional would face is the Gainesville regional. The favorite to emerge would be No. 14 Florida, a team that had a very strong regular season, but faltered in some late season highly ranked matchups.

While the Gators are still capable, Georgia Tech and Wisconsin would also provide strong challenges if given the opportunity.

And after receiving the highest NCAA seed in program history, Virginia Tech has its eyes set one step further: Oklahoma City.