virginia tech welcomes georgia tech for weekend series
Colby Talley
April 16, 2021
Morgan Overaitis (24) and Jayme Bailey (2) stand for the national anthem on April 7 against Longwood. Virginia Tech won both games of the mid-week doubleheader against the Lancers. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG, Va. — No. 15 Virginia Tech will host a four-game weekend series against conference foe Georgia Tech.
The Hokies (25-6, 16-6 ACC) return to action for the first time since April after getting the previous weekend off and had their Wednesday game against postpone to May 5 due to weather concerns.
Virginia Tech is looking to win its seventh consecutive ACC series this season.
On the other hand, the Yellow Jackets (12-20, 6-16 ACC) are coming into this series after splitting their four-game series against Louisville last weekend. The team has yet to win an in-conference series this season.
Keys to the Series
The main thing to watch for Virginia Tech is whether or not it will be able to quiet the Hornets’ bats. Despite what its record may say, Georgia Tech has been an above average offensive attack, ranking in the top of five of the ACC in batting average (.304) and slugging percentage (.492).
Two players the Hokies will have to focus on are outfielder Crosby Huckabay and first baseman Tricia Awald. Huckabay leads the teams in slugging percentage (.690), while Awald leads in batting average (.402). The onus will be on Hokies ace Keely Rochard to slow these two down.
As for the Yellow Jackets, their biggest hurdle will be getting production from their pitching rotation. The team ranks near the bottom of the ACC in ERA (5.18) and opposing batting average (.297).
Add in the fact that the Hokies have the best offense in the conference behind strong hitters like Kelsey Brown and Jayme Bailey, the challenge the Yellow Jackets face becomes all the more apparent.
Prediction
While both of these teams have offenses that are capable of putting up a lot of runs, the edge goes to the Hokies due to their statistically superior pitching rotation. The Yellow Jackets may pull off an upset in whichever game Rochard doesn’t pitch, but the Hokies should take this series in the end.
Game Facts
Friday 6 p.m. @ Tech Softball Park
Saturday 1 p.m. @ Tech Softball Park
Saturday 3 p.m. @ Tech Softball Park
Sunday 12 p.m. @ Tech Softball Park