JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging East Tennessee State squad hosts in-state foe Virginia Tech in a midweek nonconference baseball matchup Tuesday at Thomas Stadium.

The Buccaneers (16-6) enter with significant momentum, having won 10 of their last 12 games, including taking two of three on the road at UNC Greensboro over the weekend. Their offense erupted for 15 runs in Sunday’s series finale, powered by a two-homer, three-RBI day from standout Nate Conner.

Conner, who plays right field and first base, is a key bat for ETSU. Over his last 10 games, he is hitting .364 (12-for-33) with four home runs and 10 RBIs, providing consistent power in the middle of the lineup.

Virginia Tech (12-10) arrives after a grueling stretch, splitting a four-game homestand that included three extra-inning contests. The Hokies salvaged the final game of their series with Duke on Sunday, winning 7-6 in 10 innings. Reliever Chase Swift was pivotal in that victory, throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Swift, a pitcher to watch for the Hokies, has been excellent in his last two outings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs over four innings with six strikeouts. However, his season has been marked by volatility, including a tough outing at Georgia Tech on March 7 where he failed to record an out and allowed four earned runs.

The teams met earlier this season in Blacksburg on Feb. 17, with Virginia Tech claiming a 7-5 victory.

East Tennessee State boasts the superior overall record and has been dominant at times, outscoring opponents 100-30 during a recent six-game winning streak. Virginia Tech has shown resilience but has struggled for consistency, particularly on the road where they are 3-6 this season.

First pitch is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon under cloudy skies with temperatures near 57 degrees.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is East Tennessee State 7, Virginia Tech 5.

Following this game, the Buccaneers open a Southern Conference series at home against VMI on Friday. The Hokies return home to begin Atlantic Coast Conference play with a three-game set against Stanford, also starting Friday.