BC BASEBALL Travels to Blacksburg To Play Hokies

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Weekend Preview: BC BASEBALL Travels to Blacksburg
The Eagles take on the Hokies on the road

inShar

Game Notes | ACC Release

THE FACTS

MATCHUP: Boston College (8-14, 1-8 ACC) at Virginia Tech (14-13, 3-6 ACC)
WHERE: English Field at Union Park in Blacksburg, Va.
WHEN: Friday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. | Saturday, April 1 at 1 p.m. | Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m.
RECORD vs. Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech leads the series, 21-17

HOW TO FOLLOW
ACC Network Extra: Friday
Listen: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Twitter: @BCBirdball

THE MATCHUP

Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Jacob Stevens (2-2, 3.12 ERA) vs. RHP Connor Coward (4-0, 1.60 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Dan Metzdorf (1-3, 3.27 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Anderson (4-2, 3.00 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Brian Rapp (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. LHP Kit Scheetz (3-0, 2.22 ERA)

Scouting the Hokies

The Hokies have lost the last four games, falling to Campbell, 15-8, on Tuesday and dropping all three games at Pitt in the last ACC series. The weekend before Virginia Tech took two of three from Florida State in Blacksburg, including a 17-0 rubber match.

Jack Owens leads the way for the Hokies at the plate with a .383 batting average. He is one of nine VT players with multiple home runs, led by Sam Fragale, who has nine.

Fragale is tied for second in the ACC for home runs, tied for first with three triples and ranks third with 34 RBIs and a .710 slugging percentage.

Friday starter Connor Coward comes into the weekend with a perfect 4-0 record. Last weekend, he threw 6.1 innings, allowed two hits, two runs, six walks and struck out three in a no decision. He is sixth in the ACC with a .174 opponent batting average and his 1.54 ERA ranks ninth.

Saturday starter Nick Anderson is second on the team with a 3.00 ERA. He was named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week after throwing eight scoreless against Florida State.

THE SERIES

The Eagles return to the road to play Coastal Division crossover Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

The longtime series dates back to the two teams’ days in the BIG EAST. The Hokies have a slight, 21-17 advantage.

Since joining the ACC in 2006, the Eagles are 11-14 vs. the Hokies, although the 2008 victory was a non-conference matchup.

BC took two of three in last year’s meeting in Chestnut Hill. After dropping the Friday day, the Eagles rallied to win the next two.

The Eagles have only won five times at English Field and have not tallied a victory since seventh-year head coach Mike Gambino took over the program in 2011.

BC-VT CONNECTIONS

Boston College head coach Mike Gambino was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech for four years (2007-10) under then skipper Pete Hughes.

Hughes was the Eagles’ helm from 1999 to 2006. He is the head coach at Oklahoma.

The Hokies head coach Pat Mason spent time at The Heights as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2002 when Hughes was the head coach. Gambino played infield at BC under Hughes and Mason in 1999 and 2000.

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE EAGLES

The Eagles head into the fourth weekend of Atlantic Coast Conference play with all three starting pitchers ranked in the top 20 for ERA. Junior RHP Brian Rapp leads the way with a 2.25 ERA, which is ninth in the league. Sophomore RHP Jacob Stevens‘ 3.12 ERA is 18th while classmate LHP Dan Metzdorf‘s 3.27 ERA is 19th.

In the series against Clemson, the BC pitching staff allowed just three runs on Saturday and Sunday and combined for a 3.00 ERA in the three-game series with 28 strikeouts.

Junior Donovan Casey started Wednesday’s win over Massachusetts with a triple, home run, single and then a double to hit for the cycle in his first four at bats. He was the first BC player to complete the feat in 14 years and ended the day 4-for-5 with a career-high four runs scored. He leads the team with 14 runs scored, 23 hits and 31 total bases. A duel threat, he is the Eagles’ closer and has recorded two saves while throwing 7.1 innings of relief. He has a 2.45 ERA with six strikeouts.

Rapp threw a career-high seven innings and struck out a career-high eight in a no decision against No. 6 Clemson on Sunday in his first career Atlantic Coast Conference start. He retired all nine Tigers the first time through the order and 21 of the 23 total batters faced. He did not walk a batter or allow a run, giving up just two singles. He earned Eagle of the Week for his efforts.

Metzdorf threw six scoreless in his start against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing just two hits. He walked four, struck out three and retired the first seven batters he faced in the no decision. In his last two starts against Clemson and No. 1 Louisville, Metzdorf has allowed seven hits, three runs – one earned – four walks and struck out six over 12 innings.

Stevens started the season by not allowing an earned run in the 19.2 innings. His 2.72 career ERA is currently the best in BC record books.

Senior Michael Strem, who usually plays center or left field, has already logged six outfield assists in the young 2017 season, which is second in the nation. Strem’s career doubles total is up to 51, fourth all-time.

Senior Johnny Adams led the way for the Eagles at the plate against Clemson, batting .364 with four hits. He has reached base safely in the last eight games.

The Hokies will be the first team outside of the top 10 the Eagles will face since beginning the ACC schedule. Clemson was ranked sixth, Florida State second and Louisville first when the Eagles played them.