64°At The Virginia Tech Airport
  • Track & Field NCAA East Preliminaries May 24 - Jacksonville, Fla. LiveStats
  • Men's Tennis NCAA Individual Championships May 24 - 11 AM - Athens, Ga. LiveStats
  • Track & Field NCAA East Preliminaries Today - Jacksonville, Fla. LiveStats
  • Track & Field NCAA East Preliminaries May 26 - Jacksonville, Fla. LiveStats
  • Golf NCAA Golf Championship Host: USC May 29 - Riviera C.C. Pacific Palisades, CA
  • Golf NCAA Golf Championship Host: USC May 30 - Riviera C.C. Pacific Palisades, CA
  • Golf NCAA Golf Championship Host: USC May 31 - Riviera C.C. Pacific Palisades, CA
Hokies Go For BIG EAST Tourney Berth
Sweep of Seton Hall Sunday assures bid
May 2, 2002

Conference Standings
 WLPts.Remaining Series
* Notre DameRut. (5/3), Villa. (5/5)
* Villanova@ ND (5/5)
Seton Hall@ VT (5/5)
Virginia TechSH (5/5)
SyracusePitt (5/6)
Boston CollegePitt (5/5)
Rutgers@ ND (5/3)
Pittsburgh@ Prov. (5/4), @ BC (5/5),
@ Syr. (5/6)
St. John's 
Connecticut 
ProvidencePitt (5/4)
* - clinched berth in BIG EAST Championship

Schedule
Friday, May 3
   Rutgers @ Notre Dame

Saturday, May 4
   Pittsburgh @ Providence

Sunday, May 5
   Villanova @ Notre Dame
   Seton Hall @ Virginia Tech
   Pittsburgh @ Boston College

Monday, May 6
   Pittsburgh @ Syracuse

Scenarios
If VT Sweeps AND Syracuse Sweeps
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. 'Cuse; 4. VT

If VT Sweeps AND Syracuse doesn't play OR is swept
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. VT; 4. SH

If VT Sweeps AND Syracuse splits
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. VT; 4. 'Cuse

If VT Splits AND Syracuse Sweeps
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. 'Cuse; 4. SH

If VT Splits AND Syracuse Splits
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. SH; 4. 'Cuse

If SH Sweeps AND Syracuse doesn't play
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. SH; 4. 'Cuse

If SH Sweeps AND BC Sweeps AND Syracuse doesn't play OR is swept
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. SH; 4. BC

If SH Sweeps AND Pitt wins out AND Syracuse doesn't play OR is swept
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. SH; 4. Pitt

If Virginia Tech Splits AND Boston College Sweeps AND Syracuse Splits
1. ND; 2. 'Nova; 3. SH; 4. 'Cuse BLACKSBURG - On April 21st, Virginia Tech softball coach Scot Thomas told his team that they needed to win their final six conference games to assure themselves a spot in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. Now, nearly two weeks later, the Hokies have put themselves in that position, winning their previous four games. Now, they go for the last two wins and the bid Sunday afternoon.

Regardless of what happens elsewhere in the league, if the Hokies sweep Seton Hall Sunday, they are in the tournament, which will be held May 9-11 at Salem, Va. They could still get in with a split, but would need some help from other teams.

Notre Dame and Villanova have already clinched spots with the Irish claiming the top spot for the second year in a row. Seeds three and four are up for grabs between Seton Hall, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Boston College and Pittsburgh still have outside chances and haven't been eliminated yet.

Notre Dame hosts Rutgers Friday in the final conference games for the Scarlet Knights. Pittsburgh plays at Providence in the lone series on Saturday. The Panthers must win their final six games help and get some help to get into the tournament. On Sunday, the Hokies host the Pirates while Villanova travels to Notre Dame and Boston College hosts Pittsburgh.

School officials from Pittsburgh and Syracuse have met and have rescheduled the doubleheader that was rained out earlier this year. Originally, the two were supposed to meet in Pittsburgh, but now the two will play in Syracuse on Monday at 3 o'clock. Showers are in the forecast, though, for the area.

This past off-season, a new point system was installed where teams get two points for a league win, one for a tie and none for a loss or not playing the game. Therefore, even if Syracuse goes 10-6 and ends up with a .625 winning percentage - or even 10-8 with a .556 percentage - an 11-9 Tech team with a .550 percentage would get in because the Hokies would have 22 points while the Orange would only have 20.

The Hokies can go as high as the three seed, facing Villanova in the first round, with a sweep, but are guaranteed a spot with two wins Sunday. A split could get them in, but Syracuse would either have to be swept by Pitt or not play. The Orange hold the tiebreaker over the Hokies thanks to a sweep on April 7.

The first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Tech Softball Park is set for noon. Admission is free and the first 100 kids in attendance are scheduled to receive a free Virginia Tech hat. Tech Softball Park is located next to Lane Stadium with ample parking available in the parking lot next to the track.