GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG baseball will play its second consecutive top-25 opponent this Tuesday traveling to No. 13 Virginia Tech after three-game series with then No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville.
The Spartans are 1-0 against the ACC this year, after defeating NC State in Raleigh back toward the end of February. The Wolfpack were in a similar position that the Hokies are now, ranking No.11/12 during that time they were defeated by the Spartans. UNCG currently sits at 10-5 after its series loss to the Vols, but are a perfect 3-0 in midweek matchups in 2021.
Who: No. 13 Virginia Tech
Where: Atlantic Union Bank Park | Blacksburg, Va.
When: Tuesday, March 16 | 4 p.m.
Probables: UNCG; RHP Brendan Collins (1-0, 8.44) v Va Tech; TBD (0-0, 0.00)
Watch | Listen | Live Stats
HOW'S THEIR FORM?
-- The Spartans are coming off a tough weekend in Knoxville, losing their first series of the season against No. 14 Tennessee. UNCG's losses to the Vols did break up a five game-winning streak in which UNCG outscored opponents 62-19
-- The Hokies experienced their first series loss last weekend as well, taking one of three from a visiting Florida State side. This weekend broke up a streak of series wins against North Carolina, Miami and Kent State, with the Tar Heels ranking No. 25 and the Hurricanes sitting at No. 6 when facing Tech earlier this year
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
-- UNCG had just one triple over the weekend at Tennessee but it kept the side in a tie for the top-mark in the nation, with eight on the year. Only three other teams have eight triples this season, while 13 players are tied with Corey Rosier (3) for the most of any individual in Division I
-- Rosier's 21 RBI also rank ninth in the country, while he and Windish are tied at 25th in Division I with five home runs apiece
-- Until this Sunday's finale, the Spartans were on a streak of four straight games with two home runs. Josh Madole hit his first of the season in game two of the series against the No. 14 Vols, while Pres Cavenaugh struck the first of his UNCG career against NC A&T last Tuesday, adding a second in the following game at Tennessee
-- The Spartans' 27 stolen bases put them 11th in the country this season. They're led by third baseman Zack Budzik, whose eight bags are also a SoCon-high. Budzik stole a base in each of UNCG's contests against the Vols, and is yet to get caught in 2021
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
-- Freshman infielder Tanner Schobel is currently leading the ACC with 19 runs driven in during the current campaign, while fellow first year Gavin Cross ranks sixth with a .769 slugging percentage. Cross also leads the Hokies with a .386 batting average
-- The Virginia Tech pitching staff currently ranks 15th in the country with an 11.8 K/9 average. Weekend starters Chris Gerard and Peyton Alford lead the way with 27 and 25 strikeouts apiece, while lefty reliever Shane Connolly has 18. Connolly's four saves in 2021 are sixth in the nation
SERIES HISTORY
-- UNCG is 3-5 against Virginia Tech all-time, with the Spartans coming out on top in their most recent meeting, a 7-5 final at last year's Coastal Carolina-hosted Baseball At The Beach tournament
-- The Spartans also played the Hokies in a three-game series in 2019, that was shortened to just two games, breaking up a streak of over two decades since the two teams had met competitively
#letsgoG
