Blacksburg Hosts NCAA Baseball Regional For First Time

By Justin Cates

Virginia Tech came up short Sunday losing to North Carolina 4-1 in the ACC Baseball Championship Game, but that didn't prevent Blacksburg from being named a regional host site for the NCAA Tournament.

It marks the first time in school history that Tech will host a regional and it comes on the heels of an amazing run at the ACC Tournament in Durham, N.C.

The Hammerin' Hokies took down Virginia, Florida State and Georgia Tech en route to the championship game finalizing a No. 11 RPI ranking in the process.

Shortstop Chad Pinder and designated hitter/utility man Mark Zagunis were both named to the ACC Ball-Tournament Team.

For the record, I can't decide if that's just a terrible pun or a tragic typo on the press release. Sadly, I think it's the former.

The Hokies celebrate Chad Pinder's walk-off homerun against Florida State Thursday night.

Tech finished 38-20 on the year against the third toughest schedule in the nation. They are one of five ACC teams hosting a regional.

The ACC—widely considered to be the premier college baseball conference—has not had a member institution win the national championship in 58 years.

Wake Forest last won the title in 1955.

The road doesn't get any easier as Tech hosts Coastal Carolina, Oklahoma and Big East Champion UConn.

The regionals are a double elimination format and Tech will begin their tournament against Connecticut Friday at 5:30 at English Field.

The winner of the Blacksburg Regional will move on to face the winner of the Baton Rouge Regional hosted by No. 1 seed LSU.