BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech softball team will open up its fall exhibition season this weekend, playing four games at Tech Softball Park. The Hokies will take on East Tennessee State on Saturday at noon in a doubleheader and then will play two games against West Virginia Wesleyan on Sunday starting at 1 o’clock.

This weekend’s action will be the first of two for Tech. Next weekend, the Hokies will host the Virginia Tech Fall Ball Tournament on Oct. 2&3. The Hokies will host Penn State and Liberty and each team will play a pair of games both days.

The fall games will provide fans a chance to preview the 2011 team, one that features a couple of new faces. Leading the way will be freshman shortstop Dani Anderson and freshman pitcher/outfielder Kat Banks. Also making their debut in the maroon and orange will be sophomore transfer Jenny Carroll (1B), freshman outfielder Laura Wolff and freshman outfielder Cat Franzone.

The Hokies return starters at third base (Kristina Cruz), second base (Bkaye Smith), catcher (Courtney Liddle), pitcher (Kenzie Roark, Ashton Ward and Jasmin Harrell), along with outfielders Kristen Froehlich and Marra Hvozdovic. Kelsey Hensel, Alicia Field, Stephanie Kujawa, Sarah Ashby and Betty Rose all return as well, looking to crack the starting line-up.

Richelle McGarva and Ella Miller (shoulder) will not play due to off-season surgeries.

The full schedule of both weekends, as well as the full 2011 schedule, can be found here.

Admission to all of the games is free of charge.