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Series schedule between Virginia, Virginia Tech altered due to weather

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•05/16/24

Bad weather is impacting several different college baseball games across the country this weekend. And on Thursday afternoon, there was a time change announced for the Virginia–Virginia Tech baseball game on Friday. The Hoos and Hokies will clash on Friday at noon in an attempt to beat the bad weather that’s expected in the Charlottesville area, according to Greg Madia. The game was originally scheduled for 6:00 PM EST.

Both teams were expected to play on Thursday night in Charlottesville, with that one set for a 6:00 PM EST start. Virginia ended up winning Game 1 of the series on Thursday, after pitcher Evan Blanco delivered a career-long outing. In 7.1 innings of work, Blanco allowed zero earned runs and fired two strikeouts, as the Cavaliers defeated their in-state rivals 7-3.

Virginia slugger Harrison Didawick joined an exclusive club after he blasted his 20th home run of the season. He became just the fourth player in program history to hit 20 or more home runs in a single season. Didawick is now just three home runs behind Jake Gelof, who has the Cavaliers’ single-season home run record (23). He also is second place in the ACC in runs scored this season (66).

Virginia also got a two-run blast from Jacob Ference to make it 4-0 UVA in the bottom of the third inning. He hit his 16th home run of the year. The Cavaliers got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning, when Eric Becker blasted a two-run homer off the scoreboard. He went 1-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs.

Virginia Tech’s Ben Watson continued to stay hot. He’s got one of the best batting averages in the country (.421). And on Thursday night, he got a single, extending his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. Christian Martin reached a base, making it the 18th game in a row that he’s done so, which is just one short of Ben Watson’s season-high (19).

With the loss, Virginia Tech dropped to 32-18 overall and 14-14 in the ACC. Virginia moved to 38-14 overall and 16-12 in the ACC. At home, the Cavaliers have been especially dominant, posting a 24-7 record in Charlottesville.

This will be the last series of the regular season for both teams, before the 2024 ACC Tournament begins on Tuesday, May 21st. Last season, the Cavaliers advanced to the College World Series for the sixth time in program history.