Hokies head to Durham for ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Tech will face Purdue and Penn State twice each this weekend

February 15, 2018

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech softball team returns to action this weekend at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Durham, N.C., where the Hokies will face Penn State and Purdue.

Tech will play two on Friday beginning starting with Penn State at 9:30 a.m. and ending with Purdue at noon. Tech will then face Nittany Lions at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend with the Boilermakers at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The Hokies are coming off of a 2-2 season opening weekend at the Sand Dollar Classic with wins over Florida A&M and Penn State. Tech originally wasn’t scheduled to face the Nittany Lions but, in an effort to play a fourth game due to weather, the two played and the Hokies pulled out a 3-1 win.

HOKIES VS. THE FIELD

• The Hokies trail the all-time series with Penn State, 3-1, after picking up their first win over the Nittany Lions last weekend.
• Penn State got the best of Tech in both games at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last season, claiming a 1-0 win in eight innings and a 7-1 victory.
• Friday will be only the second time that Virginia Tech has faced Purdue.
• The Boilermakers won the lone previous meeting on March 7, 2002, a 7-6 victory.
• The Hokies are 42-54 all-time against teams in the current configuration of the Big Ten.

11 NEWCOMERS NEARLY TOPS THE ACC

• Virginia Tech’s 11 newcomers – made up of nine freshmen and two junior college transfers – ranks in a tie for second with Louisville for the most in the ACC.
• Duke, a softball program in its first season, leads the conference with 12 newcomers.
• Of the 11 newcomers, nine saw the field in the first weekend; including seven true freshmen.
• Of the seven, six registered starts, three drove in runs and two – Keely Rochard and Jordan Dail – recorded wins in the pitcher’s circle.

DAIL FANS 12 IN FIRST CAREER START

• Jordan Dail turned in one of the top performances by a Virginia Tech freshman making her first career start as she struck out 12 batters and allowed one run against Penn State in her first complete game effort and her first career victory.
• Her 12 Ks tied Kelly Heinz and Angela Tincher for the most by the Hokie freshman in her first career start.

Most Strikeouts in First Career Start
1. Jordan Dail, 12 vs. Penn State (2/9/18)
Kelly Heinz, 12 vs. Southern Illinois (2/10/13)
Angela Tincher, 12 at Stetson (2/12/05)
4. Katie Maynard, 10 vs. Boston (2/14/03)
Rachel Pacheco, 10 vs. UNCW (2/14/03)

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