Orange Face Off Against No.13 Virginia Tech in Final Home Series

Game Details: Friday, May 1- Sunday, May 3; Syracuse, New York; Skytop Softball Stadium
Live Video (ACCNX): Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Coverage: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange softball team (18-23, 4-15) is set to face Virginia Tech (41-9, 15-6) in a three-game ACC series at Skytop Softball Stadium this weekend May 1-3. SU will celebrate Senior Day during Saturday's game at 1p.m.

ORANGE UPDATE
SU enters the matchup after falling to No. 25 Louisville in a three-game ACC road matchup this past weekend. Syracuse fell 13-5 in six innings in the first game, 5-1 in the second game and 13-7 in the third. The Orange previously split a double header in a midweek matchup on the road with Buffalo on Wednesday, April 21.

In the circle, Madison Knight threw a complete game and had four strikeouts. She transferred the energy in the circle to the batter's box in Sunday's game, hitting back-to-back home runs, collecting her 13^th and 14^th of the season. She is now tied for fourth in the most home runs hit in a single season in program history with 14 and is tied for seventh for most career home runs with 28.

Kendall Gaunt and Vanessa Flores each hit home runs in Friday's game. Lauren Fox's three-hit game on Saturday marks her third multi-hit game of her career.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES
No. 13 Virginia Tech enters the weekend with a 41-9 overall record, and a 15-6 conference record. The Hokies currently stands in fifth place in the ACC. The Hokies previously swept North Carolina in a three-game series last weekend. Previously, Virginia Tech faced Liberty in a midweek matchup, falling to the Flames 10-9 at home.

Michelle Chatfield totaled four home runs last weekend, including three in back-to-back-to-back plate appearances. The junior batted in a program-record nine runs in Saturday's game through four hits, earning the ACC Player of the Week and NFCA Player of the Week titles. In the circle, the Hokies combined for 17 strikeouts, with Emma Mazzarone making three appearances and striking out five batters.

Chatfield and Jordan Lynch were named to the Preseason Top 100 Poll by D1 Softball. Freshmen Avery Layton and Gaby Mizelle were listed on D1 Softball's D100 Freshmen to Watch list.
The Hokies were projected to finish in fourth place by the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, and were ranked nationally at No. 19 by the NFCA Preseason Poll, No. 20 by D1 Softball, and No. 24 by Softball America in the preseason.

Last season, the Hokies finished with a 43-13 record and placed third in the ACC. Virginia Tech fell to Clemson in the semifinals of the ACC tournament and earned a bid to NCAA regionals but lost to Alabama, ultimately ending its season. The team was ranked fourth in the ACC preseason rankings and 19^th in NFCA preseason rankings.

SERIES HISTORY

This weekend's meeting will mark the 30^th, 31^st, and 32^nd matchups between Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
The Orange hold a 16-13 advantage over the Hokies, with the first meeting occurring on April 2, 2001.
The last time the two teams faced off, Syracuse won 6-2 on April 28, 2024.

SCHEDULE

Friday, May 1: vs. Virginia Tech at 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 2: vs. Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. ET (Senior Day)
Sunday, May 3: vs. Virginia Tech at 12 p.m. ET

UP NEXT
The Orange look to extend their season to the ACC tournament. The conference tournament will be held in Charlottesville, Virginia from May 10-12.

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