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Three Things to Watch for Virginia Tech's Olympic Sports (5/4-5/6)

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With spring football wrapped up, the attention for Virginia Tech turns to the Olympic sports with VT's baseball and softball teams both in action in Blacksburg while VT track and field gets one more chance to post qualifying times before the ACC Tournament. Here's our weekend preview of what to watch this weekend for the Hokies.

1. Virginia Tech Baseball's Critical Series vs. Boston College

The biggest storyline surrounding Virginia Tech athletic teams that are competing happens at English Field as the Hokies' baseball team enters a critical series at home against Boston College where they have to at least win 2 out of 3 games if not sweep the Eagles. After three close, heartbreaking losses at Miami followed by a close loss at Old Dominion, Virginia Tech's hopes of making the NCAA Tournament have become quite faint while their pursuit of a top 12 ACC finish, the requirement to make the ACC Tournament, also appears in danger. Currently, the Hokies are one game behind Boston College for the final spot in the ACC Tournament with the chance for this to be a swing series. A sweep for BC likely would eliminate the Hokies while a sweep for Virginia Tech would put the Hokies in the driver's seat ahead of one more ACC series at home against a Virginia team that is only 10-14 in conference play (VT is 7-17, BC is 8-16). While wins over Boston College wouldn't be the fanciest for a resume, they could help get the Hokies away from being too close to .500 as they currently are at 24-22. With a game against a very good West Virginia team looming as well, a sweep seems like the minimum requirement for the Hokies to bring any life back into their NCAA hopes. One of the unique things with this series is the fact that it will be a Saturday-Monday series instead of a traditional Friday-Sunday with the final game being televised on ESPNU and every starting no earlier than 4pm at this point. However, don't be surprised to see tomorrow's game moved up with the threat of inclement weather being greatest later in the evening.

2. Virginia Tech Softball Adjusts Senior Day After Western Carolina Cancellation

Virginia Tech softball was expecting to have one final doubleheader this weekend against Western Carolina to prepare for the ACC Softball Tournament, but that won't be the case after the series was cancelled due to worries about inclement weather that could have affected postgame travel for WCU. Despite the cancellation, Virginia Tech announced that they will hold a special intra-squad scrimmage instead so they can still give their seniors a Senior Day sendoff at Tech Softball Park. https://twitter.com/HokiesSoftball/status/1124060708478627854 VT Softball deserves plenty of credit for still finding a way to help celebrate not only a senior class, but a team as a whole that has been one of the best spring turnaround stories in all of American collegiate sports, winning an ACC regular season title and going 45-8 after losing records the previous two seasons. While the scrimmage is expected to only feature Hokies' softball stars, Virginia Tech wrestling star David McFadden was also hoping to get in on the action with VT Softball head coach Pete D'Amour ready to give him a tryout. https://twitter.com/davidd_mcfadden/status/1124094105284378624 https://twitter.com/VTsoftballCoach/status/1124103667915919362 Additionally, national champion Mekhi Lewis also stated his interest to be a part of the game. https://twitter.com/M_lewiss22/status/1124113085076267016 Whatever the case ends up being, how fun would it be to see Lewis, McFadden, and some other Virginia Tech athletes who aren't softball players try their luck in what should be a fun, laid back afternoon at Tech Softball Park celebrating a softball team unlike any Virginia Tech fans have seen in years.

3. Virginia Tech Track Ends the Regular Season at Tennessee

After a midweek trip to Liberty, Virginia Tech track and field ends their season with a trip to Tennessee, a final opportunity for some runners, throwers, and jumpers to qualify for the ACC Tournament at minimum and possibly an NCAA regional. After sending the team in parts to the Penn Relays, Louisville, and UVA last week; the Hokies will have a meet together to see how they can do as a team before the ACC Tournament in Charlottesville next weekend. Currently, the Hokies are not ranked on either the men's or women's side but there is no doubt that the Hokies will be among the top contenders to win the ACC crown next week. If there is one individual to keep an eye on, it's Jacory Patterson. Patterson has been one of the biggest breakout stars for Virginia Tech and while track & field isn't as popular as wrestling in Blacksburg, Patterson has a chance to become a major star as a serious contender to win a national title especially at the 400 meters. Additionally, Patterson has already been resetting the Hokies' record books both on the indoor track and outside and could break some more records this weekend in Knoxville.

Photo Credit: Dave Knachel/Virginia Tech Athletics

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