Preview: Ga. Tech at Va. Tech

News and hot points, courtesy of GT sports info:

No. 18 Georgia Tech (12-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
English Field (Blacksburg, Va.)

Game 14 (Road 3) - Friday, March 8, 2013

First Pitch: 5:30 p.m. ET
Matchup: RHP Buck Farmer, GT vs. LHP Eddie Campbell, VT
Radio: WREK 91.1 FM Atlanta
Webcast: HokieTV.com

Game 15 (Road 4) - Saturday, March 9, 2013

First Pitch: 2 p.m. ET
Matchup: RHP Dusty Isaacs, GT vs. RHP Brad Markey, VT
Radio: WREK 91.1 FM Atlanta
Webcast: None

Game 16 (Road 5) - Sunday, March 10, 2013

First Pitch: 1 p.m. ET
Matchup: RHP Cole Pitts, GT vs. RHP Devin Burke, VT
Radio: WREK 91.1 FM Atlanta
Webcast: HokieTV.com

BUZZWORTHY

>> No. 18 Georgia Tech begins defense of its 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference title when ACC plays opens this weekend versus No. 30 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

>> The series begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. at English Field. All three games can be heard on WREK with Nolan Alexander and Wiley Ballard on the call, while HokieSports.com will have live video Friday and Sunday.

>> Tech has won six of its last eight ACC-opening series and is 13-6 all-time in ACC-opening series under head coach Danny Hall.

>> Tech's 12-1 record through 13 games is the best since a similar 12-1 start in 2010. This year marks the eighth time under Coach Hall that the Jackets have started 12-1 or better -- all seven previous teams advanced to an NCAA Regional and two to the CWS.

>> The Jackets lead the nation in batting average (.356), and pace the ACC in hits (167), runs (131) and RBI (118). Five Jackets currently rank among the top 22 in hitting in the league.

>> Junior Zane Evans is the reigning ACC Player of the Week after hitting .579 last week with four homers and nine RBI. He had three hits in the Tuesday win over Mercer and leads the ACC with five home runs.

>> Seven Tech players currently own hitting streaks of five games or longer, including eight-game streaks by Mott Hyde, Sam Dove and Matt Gonzalez. Three players -- Brandon Thomas, A.J. Murray and Daniel Palka -- have reached base in all 13 games.

>> Tech leads the all-time series with Virginia Tech 20-11 and has won six of the nine meetings at English Field.