#Pack9 To Host No. 15 Hokies This Weekend

RALEIGH – NC State baseball (16-13, 9-12 ACC) returns to action this weekend at Doak Field at Dail Park when it hosts No. 15 Virginia Tech 21-12 (15-9 ACC) in a three-game series. The teams will play Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.

Friday's game will be on the ACC Network Extra, while Saturday and Sunday will air on the ACC Network with Mike Monaco and Adam Greenberg on the call. There will additionally be a free audio stream on WKNC 88.1 and the TuneIn App.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
With the recent updates to capacity guidelines for Doak Field at Dail Park, NC State Athletics is able to increase fan attendance for the remainder of the season. NC State student-athletes, NC State students and NC State baseball season ticket holders will all have increased allotments for upcoming games.

A full concessions menu on the first base side will be provided for fans. Both cash and credit card will be accepted. Fans are no longer permitted to bring in outside food but are still allowed to bring in an unopened bottle of water.

#STRIKEOUTALS
Saturday's game will be NC State baseball's annual #StrikeOutALS game, as the team will honor the life of former player Chris Combs and raise awareness for ALS.

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – Sam Highfill (NCSU) vs. LHP Peyton Alford (VT)
Saturday – TBA (NCSU) vs. RHP Anthony Simonelli (VT)
Sunday – TBA (NCSU) vs. TBA (VT)

SERIES HISTORY
NC State and Virginia Tech have met 69 times on the diamond, as the Wolfpack owns a 45-22-2 advantage in the all-time series and has won 10 out of the last 12 meetings between the squads.

The teams last met on March 29-31, 2018 in Blacksburg, Va., and NC State won the last two games of the series, 14-2 and 1-0, to take the series after a 10-2 loss in the opener.

The last time the Pack and Hokies met in Raleigh was on April 28-30, 2017, and NC State swept the series (5-2, 8-6 and 14-2).

LAST TIME OUT
NC State traveled to then-No. 7 Notre Dame for a three-game set on April 16-18. Despite evening the series with a 5-2 win on Saturday after a narrow 3-2 loss in the series opener, the Pack dropped the rubber game, 11-2.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
The Hokies picked up a 7-5 win on Tuesday against VMI in its last time out after suffering a series loss to Georgia Tech last weekend.

Tech currently leads the Coastal Division of the ACC baseball standings by one game after being picked to finish sixth in the division in the ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll.

Freshman Gavin Cross currently leads the ACC with a .412 batting average and .756 slugging percentage with 54 hits and 38 runs scored. His team-leading 10 home runs and three triples additionally rank among the top four in the conference.

As a team, VT ranks among the top four in the league in 10 different offensive categories.

On the mound, its pitching staff has compiled a 4.85 earned-run average and ranks second among the ACC with 365 strikeouts. Alford Peyton leads the staff with eight starts in nine appearances with 55 strikeouts in 38.0 innings pitched while Anthony Simonelli has earned seven starts, including a team-best four wins, in as many appearances on the mound and owns a 3.47 ERA.

Out of the pen, seven different pitchers have tallied double-digit appearances in relief, led by Jason Heard (15), Noah Johnson (14) and Shane Connolly (14).

ON DECK
Tuesday, April 27 · @ Appalachian State · 5 PM

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Players Mentioned

Sam Highfill