Collegiate Times

The Hokies (24-19, 7-14) season got off to a rough start as they started off 1-11 in Atlantic Coast Conference action, including four one-run losses.

However, they have gone 6-3 in conference plays since that start and are fighting for an opportunity to play in the postseason.

“That is so hard to come out of because it is human nature to start doubting yourself,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “I kept telling them they are a good baseball team and that things are going to turn. They kept asking me, when?”

After winning their first conference series of the season against Wake Forest back in early April, the Hokies hosted No. 11 Florida State.

Tech won the first game 2-1 but relinquished back-to-back late inning leads during the final two contests. The bullpen allowed a total of 19 runs during innings seven, eight and nine of those games.

“Florida State was as bad as it got for the bullpen,” Hughes said. “They have been pretty good for the year.”

The Hokies have had a hard time replacing their stellar pitching staff from last year. They lost all three starting pitchers, along with their closer, to the MLB Draft. Jesse Hahn was drafted in the 6th round, Matthew Price in the 8th, Ben Rowen in the 22nd and Justin Wright in the 47th. Yet, since the series with the Seminoles, Tech has won five straight, including a sweep of Maryland in College Park.

The team heads to Duke (20-24, 4-17) this weekend in need of crucial wins during its last road series of the season.

After the series with the Blue Devils, the Hokies host Clemson and Georgia Tech to close out regular season conference play.

The top eight teams in the conference standings have the opportunity to play in the ACC Tournament. The Hokies are currently tied with Wake Forest in the eighth spot.

“The only way we are going to achieve our goal, which is the College World Series in Omaha, is to get into the ACC Tournament and qualify for an at-large spot,” Hughes said. “We are on the outside looking in from the hole we dug, but we are charging toward the bubble.”

Joe Mantiply (5-5, 4.32 ERA), the Hokies’ No. 1 starter, has won three straight games, while allowing just two earned runs over 18 innings. He has had a considerable turnaround from some rough starts earlier in the season.

“We need to keep getting good starts, so our bullpen is rested and sharp,” Hughes said. “That is the key down the home stretch.”

A version of this article appeared in the Apr 29 issue of the Collegiate Times.