FSU softball: Noles host No. 5 Va Tech Hokies in top five showdown

No. 3 FSU softball (36-2, 10-2 ACC) will host No. 5 Virginia Tech (27-4, 11-0 ACC) in a three-game series this weekend. FSU softball is coming off a huge win over rival Florida in extra innings earlier this week.

However, a series win over first-place Virginia Tech would put the Noles in the driver’s seat to win the division. Virginia Tech is coming off an extra-inning loss against UCF in their last outing. They have six batters hitting .300 or better, with 33 home runs, 38 doubles, and 12 triples.

Their on-base percentage is .380, and they strike out (120) much more than they walk (79). Virginia Tech’s pitching staff brings a 1.44 ERA while allowing a .144 batting average.

They have allowed 11 home runs and have 346 strikeouts and 60 walks in 204.1 innings. Defensively, they have 20 errors for a .974 fielding percentage.

FSU softball has five batters hitting over. 300, with 39 home runs, 57 doubles, and nine triples.

Their on-base percentage is .408, and they walk (172) much more than they strike out (148). FSU’s pitching staff brings a .128 ERA while allowing a .180 batting average.

They have allowed 13 home runs and have 255 strikeouts and 60 walks in 261 innings. Defensively, FSU has 15 errors for a .986 fielding percentage.

FSU Softball Keys To Victory

FSU softball has played some solid ball in their 10 game winning streak. They play good defense, have superb pitching, and have swung the bats well. Va Tech pitchers ARE strikeout machines, but only 36 percent of those have come in conference play.

That makes me question some of their non-conference competition, though two of the losses are against Alabama. Both teams strike out around the same percentage of their at-bats (14 percent), but FSU is the better offensive team because of all the ways they put pressure on defenses.

If they swing it well, I think that will be the difference in the series. The game will begin at 6 p.m. ET and will air on the ACCNX channel.