February 7, 2023

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SCAMS TARGETING VIRGINIA TECH COMMUNITY TRIGGER POLICE INVESTIGATIONS

BETHANY HANSEL | NEWS WRITER

The Virginia Tech Police Department offers several methods for students to spot scams.

The Virginia Tech Police Department is launching investigations into the recent slew of scams that students and faculty have been subject to. University police have received roughly 20 different reports in the last several weeks from victims of various scams circulating across campus.

These scams have taken a variety of forms, but the two most common include job advertisements sent out to students and faculty from a university-affiliated email address, or blackmail through a social media or dating app. Sergeant Tim Wines from VTPD’s Investigations Unit shed light on the common scams they have been seeing recently.

“I think right now the one that we’re seeing the most is a job listing scam, where students are either contacted by email, or they see a

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job posting on social media, and it’s usually for a remote research assistant opportunity,” Wines said. “The students then contact someone they think is from Virginia Tech, and the scammers ask for personal information and a resume. Then they move on from there, and tell them they have the job, and tell them they need to purchase office supplies.”

Wines went on to describe how these scammers typically pay them with a seemingly official Virginia Tech e-check but will ask them to send some of the money back when they’re done, usually through cryptocurrency or a gift card. The student will then end up losing money from their account, as the original check does not clear.

The other type of scam occurring over the last few weeks concerns blackmail through

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social media.

“The second one that we’ve seen going around right now is an extortion scam, where the students connect with somebody by social media or a dating app,” Wines said. “They start having intimate conversation, and then private photographs or videos are shared or recorded. Sometimes the student doesn’t even realize that those are being recorded. And then the individual uses that information to blackmail the person by threatening to release that intimate material online unless they’ve received payment.”

VTPD is attempting to locate the sources of these scams and determine how these perpetrators are able to use university-affiliated email addresses. However, most of their leads have steered them to dead ends.

“We follow this as far as we can, try to figure out who is scamming the students,” Wines said. “Most of the ones that we’ve investigated have led outside of the United States, so obviously we don’t have jurisdiction outside of the United States, but I can say if we do catch somebody, and they’re within the United States, we work with the Commonwealth’s attorney to bring the appropriate charges and

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work with the court system with that.”

As the cases remain open, Wines lists several signs of potential scams to be wary of to prevent students and faculty from falling prey to fraud. One of the primary signs to look for is a person you don’t know and have never met in person asking for personal information, such as personal identification numbers, passwords, birth dates, social security numbers or for intimate photos or videos. VTPD reminds students to refrain from sharing any information or images with anyone they have never met in person or otherwise validated their identity.

Additionally, if someone asks for any type of payment where they send money and ask for parts of it back, it is usually a scam. Wines warns to never cash unexpected checks from individuals you don’t know and to contact your bank or the bank who issued the check to find out if it is fraudulent.

For students who identify or think they may have been subjected to a scam, it is recommended that they contact the VTPD and alert them to the issue.

“Anytime a student, faculty or staff member continued on page 3

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thinks that they’re being scammed, they can certainly call us,” Wines said. “We participate in a regional dispatch, so the number for that is 540-382-4343, and that’s New River Valley dispatch. They can talk to them, and the dispatcher will gather some information, and

continued from page 2 try to figure out where the scam happened, and they’ll be sent to the appropriate law enforcement.”

Even for students or faculty with general questions or concerns, Wines encourages them to call the same number, and the police will assist in any way they can. Students

can also report tips anonymously at police. vt.edu/anonymous. Wines reminds students that being subject to a scam can have serious repercussions, ranging from loss of money, to leaked intimate photos or videos, or to stolen identity. Students can visit VTPD’S website to learn more safety tips that will protect them

from falling prey to such scams.

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PRESIDENT BIDEN APPOINTS DEAN BEVLEE WATFORD TO NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

JANE PARK | NEWS EDITOR

Watford is the second Virginia Tech faculty member to be on the board.

On Jan. 13, the White House released a statement announcing President Joe Biden’s selected members of the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation.

On this list was Bevlee Watford, the associate dean for equity and engagement for the College of Engineering. Watford first came to Virginia Tech to earn her bachelor’s, then went on to earn her master’s and doctorate before taking a faculty position.

VTx reported the last Virginia Tech faculty member to be appointed was President Emeritus T. Marshall Hahn in 1972.

According to Watford, the call for nominations went out after Biden was elected to office in 2020. The American Society for Engineering Education, of which Watford has been president since 2017, was asked if they were interested in submitting a nomination. Deeming Watford as the best candidate, they officially nominated her.

“I didn’t tell my husband,” Watford said. “I didn’t tell anybody for two reasons — what if I tell them, and it doesn’t happen? Then I look silly, so I didn’t tell anybody, and honestly because so much time went by, I forgot about it.”

After a few confidential follow-up emails, Watford was notified of her appointment on Jan. 27.

Watford is not yet aware of what her responsibilities as a board member entails, as she is currently filling out paperwork and becoming situated until she is officially sworn in. The position is not full-time, meaning Watford will continue her position at the university.

Watford’s goals while serving on the board are the same as her goals at Virginia Tech: widening participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but mainly focusing on engineering.

Watford’s university office encourages those interested in engineering to pursue it.

Watford also wants to promote diversity within the field of engineering.

“I am more concerned with the groups that are underrepresented,” Watford said. “We have less women in engineering clearly; we have less people of color in engineering clearly. They choose the board members based on what they know, and I think that’s what I’m bringing to the board is the work I’ve done in student recruitment and retention and broadening participation in engineering. I think that’s why I was chosen.”

Watford believes that because her position at Virginia Tech involves working closely with students, she will be valuable to the board. Watford has worked with both pre-college and undergraduate students for about 30 years.

“If you look at the board members, they are presidents and provosts, and all these really senior people,” Watford said. “I don’t know their jobs; I don’t know their lives, but I think I have greater interaction with students on the ground with the kids seeking engineering degrees than perhaps they have. They have different expertise they’re bringing to the board. I think I know also what works, and what doesn’t, and I can look at things and say ‘that sounds like a good idea, but I can tell you the students aren’t gonna like it, and they’re not gonna go for it.’”

According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Biden’s appointments to the National Science Board make it the most diverse in its history.

Watford has a history of breaking barriers, being the first Black woman to make professor in the College of Engineering, be inducted into the Virginia

Tech Academy of Excellence and elected as president of the ASEE.

“I don’t want to be completely humble, and say ‘I’m not a very good person,’” Watford said. “Yeah, I’ve got some skills; I’ve got some things that I’ve done, but it’s also I think very much a function of timing. It is when it happens, and who’s in the spot is not necessarily as important as when it happened. Everything had a first; I just happen to be fortunate enough to come along at a time when there hadn’t

been many African Americans active in the ASEE.”

VTx also reported that Watford has a six-year term on the board, concluding in May 2028.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH NEWS

OPINIONS

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY SHOULD BE LESS ABOUT PUNISHMENT AND MORE ABOUT PRINCIPLES

Chris Donaldson | Opinions Contributor

The university should appeal to students’ morality as technology advances.

If you’ve been following recent news, it might seem like the world is full of cheaters. Last month, Rick Singer was the latest to be charged in connection with a nationwide college admissions scandal, implicating more than 50 people. Parents, coaches and test administrators cooperated through a network of bribery and fraud to secure the admission of unqualified, upper-class students into the nation’s top universities. Late last year, Bitcoin magnate Sam Bankman-Fried defrauded millions of investors by using FTX customer funds to pay another company’s debts.

Stories like these can test our faith in humanity. But as members of an institution with the reach and influence of Virginia Tech, the Hokie community should consider such incidents a challenge, to commit itself to the promotion of honesty, both in academics and in life. As technology makes inroads in the classroom, the temptation to cheat has never been stronger and the penalties for cheating have never been easier to get around. But the university has one last line of defense in the fight against cheating: an appeal to morality.

On syllabus day each semester, every Hokie is greeted by a familiar statement:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Lying, cheating and stealing have academic equivalents defined at length in most class syllabi. Words like “plagiarism,” “fabrication” and the use of “unauthorized materials” have clear meanings and carry strict penalties: at minimum a failing grade, at most, expulsion. But the meanings of words, even solemn oaths, when mindlessly repeated, are easily forgotten.

Last December, 60 Virginia Tech students were accused of using Chegg. com, a homework help site, to complete

assignments for their coding class. Regardless of individual circumstances, the sheer number of students involved is cause for reflection. It could be evidence of a class-wide misunderstanding but could just as easily indicate a widespread indifference to the honor code and its penalties, which have become increasingly easy to get around in this digital age.

Chegg answers student questions on demand, well within the time frame of typical college exams. A 2021 study revealed students often submit photos of questions to Chegg taken directly from online tests. Another study in the Journal of Educational Integrity found a 200% increase in questions posted to Chegg. com from 2019-2020, correlating with the pandemic-driven shift to online learning. These figures are telling, but what can they tell us that we don’t already know? College students talk. They share their successes and their failures, often publicly, and some speak candidly about their attempts to cheat. While many Hokies take pride in their work, it’s hard to deny that academic dishonesty is a fixture of campus culture.

The growing prevalence of technology in and out of the classroom has emboldened cheaters. Drew Kellenberger, a senior double majoring in business information technology and computational modeling and data analytics and president of the Undergraduate Honor Council, discusses how the prevalence of technology has influenced academic integrity.

“Everyone knows someone who may have done something,” Kellenberger said. “I think (technology) definitely has affected academic honesty in a big way. We see a lot of cases of people using Chegg or Course Hero.”

Mike Frank, a sophomore majoring in cybersecurity, management and analytics, shared a similar sentiment.

“There’s so many services online that

students can utilize to do their work without actually doing their work,” Frank said.

Perhaps most concerning is the emergence of AI writing sites like Chat GPT — online programs that when given the command, will write paragraphs of text on any topic with all the marks of human creation. Writing was one area where cheating had always been a challenge. An individual’s written work was thought to be as unique as its creator — a true reflection of their knowledge, but now even written

assignments can be completed on-demand with little mental effort.

“I think it’s going to become even easier for kids to cheat with Chat GPT,” Frank said. “College is just going to become useless. People are going to put the prompt in and get something else to write it for them.”

Currently, no reliable methods exist to determine if a text is AI-made.

What’s clear is that students cheat because they can. Universities can define cheating in the clearest of terms and set the continued on page 5

INQUIAD CHOWDHURY / COLLEGIATE TIMES

A driven student studying in an empty classroom, Sept. 30, 2019.

continued from page 4 highest of penalties for offenders, but ultimately they are powerless to stop students from collaborating on online tests, using Chegg for answers or forging work with AI. Essentially, our campus operates on the honor system: the only thing that binds a student to honest conduct is one’s personal moral code. If the university wants to prevent cheating, it must do more than define and punish, it must address the moral cost of academic dishonesty and give students a reason not to cheat. Luckily, such reasons are easy to come by.

We often hear of the high value of the Virginia Tech degree. This value is not just a source of pride and prestige, it is an obligation, forged through generations of dependable service by Hokies. People trust our graduates. They trust our engineers to build the roadways and bridges that stand between drivers and death. Farmers look to our extension agents for

the latest in agricultural technology and stake their harvests and their livelihoods on our knowledge. When we cheat, we deprive ourselves and the world of lifesaving, life-giving knowledge and break the trust of all who depend on us.

If you are paying for your own tuition, you know the value of a degree in a different sense: in terms of dollars spent, hours labored and days and nights sacrificed in the name of a better life. Why miss out on even a fraction of the knowledge you’ve earned? If your tuition is paid for, consider the people who paid for it — the years of striving and saving, or maybe the oceans crossed in support of your education. When you cheat, you devalue the labor and sacrifice that earned you your education.

Finally, consider yourself. Reflect on what it means if you would rather submit someone else’s work in place of your own. Cheating is the ultimate show of self-doubt

— a resignation that your perspective, your approach and the products of your mind are not worth sharing. Chat GPT may seem like a flawless writer, with endless information at its disposal, but it has one blind spot — it is not you. It has not lived a moment in your skin and never will. Your choice of words is the banner of your existence, the sum of everything that you, and you alone, have witnessed. It is a shame to deprive the world of your perspective, and it is far better to speak, even imperfectly, than to be spoken for.

There is a moral cost to academic dishonesty, and it falls both on the cheater and the cheated: the student who breaks the honor code, and all who stand to gain from their learning. Virginia Tech can make students painfully aware of the penalties for breaking the honor code, but only a moral code, instilled and developed in every Hokie, will produce an honest campus. Tech students must be

taught that the consequences of academic dishonesty are not merely academic. If the university wants to prevent cheating, it should emphasize principles more than punishments. @COLLEGIATETIMES

LIFESTYLES “LET’S START HERE”: RE-INTRODUCING LIL YACHTY

Alejandra Caballero | Lifestyles Writer

Lifestyles writer Alejandra Caballero reviews “Let’s Start Here,” Lil Yachty’s first full-length album in three years.

Coming off the wave of up-and-coming rappers on SoundCloud, Lil Yachty’s single “One Night” went viral on a comedy video, and soon after he started getting attention for his playful and casual rap style. His newfound success was met with backlash and people questioning his legitimacy as a rapper. Those familiar with the rap industry and 90s rap legends called Lil Yachty “just another SoundCloud rapper” or subjected him to not being a “real rapper”at all. Tired of being put in a box, the world was hit with “Let’s Start Here,” his first full-length release in three years.

The audience is introduced to the album with the first track, “the BLACK seminole.”

Immediately the audience is met with psychedelic rock guitar and the steady beat of a snare as we are introduced to the new trippy world Lil Yachty has curated. The reminiscent Pink Floyd guitar solo captures and entraps you in a comfortable standstill

that transitions into hallucinogenic cosmic blares, and the journey into Yachty’s mindbending world then begins.

Continuing his psychedelic-trip-like theme, track three, “running out of time,” takes you on a much easier ride with a groovy chord progression that repeats itself throughout the song and funky synths that creates less of a mind bender, but comes off as a smooth current as the audience gets comfortable and wades in the lazy river of this track.

With help from indie veteran Mac DeMarco as a co-producer, Lil Yachty taps deeper into the indie genre, leaving the rock, but keeping the psychedelic vibes of it all in “drive ME crazy.” This time keyboard synths take the lead and we are led by the slower paced beat of drums. It sends the audience off in an orchestral swell of violin and woodwinds as he keeps his infamous mumble to coo over the instrumental,

leaving listeners amazed with how well it flows.

In “:(failure(:” Yachty speaks from the heart about the criticism he’s received from the public in the past and how that has caused setbacks in his career and even from making more music. Coming from a stream of consciousness perspective, he talks through his feelings regarding the hate and how just because he “failed” does not mean he has reached defeat. He saw his failure as a stepping stone to improve and listeners see the product of that in this album.

After a hiatus of three years, he certainly has made the world pay attention to him with this genre shift. The new risks he has taken by experimenting with a genre that may have seemed unorthodox coming from “just another SoundCloud rapper” has made me and others pay attention to his potential for other similar projects. I

give this album a 6.5/10, and look forward to seeing him and other rappers take similar risks in changing the definition of rap for years to come.

A GUIDE TO THE INS AND OUTS OF GREEK LIFE

aidan mason | lifestyles writer

College and Greek life have had a long and sometimes controversial history together. You can see countless examples of it in media such as “Animal House” and “Neighbors.” One thing that’s not always so clear, however, is how exactly it works in the real world. What’s it like to actually join a sorority? How do you decide which one to join? And, is joining a sorority right for you?

Obviously, it’s different for everyone, but the best advice comes from those who have already been through the process. Not only that, but it’s also important to get advice from those who are just starting out as well, who are the closest to the same level as you are, but also have knowledge to give.

Freshman Keara Spruill and senior Bridget Spruill, both sisters in blood and in Zeta Tau Alpha, cover both of those perfectly and have plenty of tips to help you decide.

How do you know if you’re a good fit for Greek life?

First off, there’s always the question of if Greek life is something that you truly want to be a part of or not. There are countless people on campus that don’t join any Greek organization whatsoever and it’s not a requirement. At the same time, how do you know for certain?

“Personally, I believe there is no way to tell if someone is fit or not for Greek life because there is no true definition of a ‘sorority girl’ or ‘frat guy,’” Keara Spruill said. “From my past experience rushing, I met so many people that never saw themselves rushing because they didn’t think that it fit their personality but in the end, they proved themselves wrong.”

Bridget Spruill had a similar experience, feeling some hesitation before getting into her sorority.

“I personally didn’t know if I was a good fit for Greek life going into the rushing process,” Bridget Spruill said, noting that as she started her journey, she found that she could “see a future for (herself)” in her sorority.

How do you find a sorority/fraternity that best fits you?

Not all Greek houses are the same. Each one has their own people, their own values

and their own charities. So how do you find the best one for you?

“I believe the best way to find a Greek life organization that fits you the best would be to always keep an open mind about every house, and to not let others deter your beliefs,” Keara Spruill said. She said she went in with “an open and positive mind” in order to get the best out of the experience.

“The way to find a sorority that best fits you is to be confident in yourself and who you are,” Bridget Spruill said. “You want to find people you enjoy talking to and being yourself with, and you can only find those people if you take down those walls during rush.”

What are the key steps from selecting an organization to being accepted?

Now that you’ve decided on a Greek organization to join, you might be asking, “how do I get in?” After all, people go through a long process in order to get into these organizations.

“Some key steps and advice I have are to keep an open mind, and just meet as many people as you can,” Keara Spruill said.

“With doing both of these, you can create so many new connections with people that could either be your said brothers/sisters, or you can just create a new friendship.”

Similarly, Bridget Spruill placed an equal focus on the mental aspects of going through rush. “Every Greek organization does things differently, so there’s never going to be some magic recipe to getting into any organization you want. My advice would be to be as confident in yourself as you can be. Think in terms of them wanting you to join, rather than you wanting to join them.”

What costs factor into Greek life that people should know about?

Greek life isn’t totally devoid of risk or sacrifice. There are dues, time and energy that you have to devote to the organization and not everyone knows about them from the onset.

Keara Spruill heavily agrees. “I would say the biggest cost factor regarding a sorority/ fraternity organization would be the time factor,” she said. “Greek life is a bigger time commitment than most people would think.”

“I am a biology major and that has been something I struggled balancing when I first joined ZTA,” Bridget Spruill said. “Over time I’ve been able to work in sorority events with everyday life and thankfully my sorority also has a lot of resources to help me. But having a large time commitment is definitely a cost people should consider more.”

Once you’re in, what comes next?

So, what immediately happens once you’re accepted? Now that you’ve made it inside, what do you do now?

“Once I was accepted into the sorority, I was sort of lost on what to do and what not to do. However, we were given a mentor buddy that would help us with this transition,” Keara Spruill said. She then noted the multiple hangouts and meetings that the organization would host in order to accommodate new members.

“Again, every chapter does things a little differently as far as timing of different ceremonies goes,” Bridget Spruill notes. “But typically in your first semester you have ceremonies like Bid Day, Big/Little reveal, and Initiation.” continued on page 7

ANDREW RODGERS / COLLEGIATE TIMES Gobblerfest, September 2, 2022.

continued from page 6

There’s an understandable fear of hazing or similar practices. What do you say to that?

While nowadays there are stricter protections against hazing and other harmful practices used against new pledges, the fear still remains in the general public’s eye.

Of course, it should be noted that hazing is still a prevalent issue regardless of school. If you feel like you’re being hazed, please contact VTPD at (540) 231-6411 to get assistance or call 911. For more information, visit the hazing and conduct status section of VT’s campus life website or visit the Stop Hazing website at www.stophazing.org. Don’t suffer in silence.

“A great thing about Virginia Tech is that we do not have to worry about hazing regarding Greek life. We are allowed to be ourselves free from peer pressure,” Keara Spruill said, referring to her sorority in particular.

“Hazing was something that terrified me going through rush. I was really worried that I was going to have to ‘prove myself’ or show that I deserved to be there,” Bridget Spruill said. “I am lucky to be able to say I didn’t experience any hazing in ZTA. I was never pressured to go out of my comfort zone, I was never asked to do or say anything I didn’t want to, (and) most of all I was given respect.”

What else goes into Greek life that people might not know about?

Our journey is almost complete. We’ve made it through and now we’re in a sorority/ fraternity. The question is, what comes next? What else is there that we have yet to discover?

“Another aspect of Greek life that I feel is overlooked is how close the community is,” Keara Spruill said. “While there are so many different sorority and fraternity organizations, we all still work together as a whole.”

Bridget Spruill noted her sorority’s work with breast cancer charities and how she connected with it because of her mother’s experience with cancer.

“I feel like a misconception about sororities is that we’re only in it for the fun parts. But in

SPORTS

my sorority I can truly say I made a difference and I carry that with a lot of pride,” she said. There’s a lot that goes into Greek life, much more than can be covered in a single interview. But what’s important is that curtains can be pulled back and mysteries revealed, allowing you to make a choice that will benefit you the most.

MEN’S BASKETBALL EARNS REVENGE AGAINST NO. 6 CAVALIERS

amber williams | sports editor

Hokies top in-state rivals UVA 74-68 in Commonwealth Clash.

In the second Commonwealth Clash of the season, Virginia Tech (14–9, 4–8 ACC) evened the score with rivals UVA (17–4, 9–3 ACC) topping the Cavaliers 74–68 on Saturday in Cassell Coliseum.

Tech led the entire matchup in its determination to comeback from its loss to UVA less than a month ago on Jan. 18 when the

Cavaliers were ranked at No. 10.

“We did the same things in Charlottesville, they adjusted, we knew they would,” said Head coach Mike Young. “But I thought our players did a great job in recognizing opportunities that were there.”

The Hokies earned today’s triumphant win against their in-state rivals while UVA was

ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25 poll where Tech went unranked in week 13. In fact, Tech hasn’t seen the poll since week seven.

But in this game, the rankings meant nothing.

Despite Tech’s success, it was a tight matchup in the first half, with the Hokies entering the midway point up by only two points, 32–30. Tech had held the largest lead of the game so far with just nine points, but UVA was able to close the gap before heading into the break.

A lightning start to the second half courtesy of a dunk from Grant Basile gave the Hokies a jump, but it didn’t take long for the Cavaliers to creep up and tie Tech 38–38 less than five minutes into play.

Justyn Mutts sank a two-pointer less than a minute later to put the Hokies up again and give them a lead which they never relented. Mutts was second in points for the Hokies with 17 and posted eight assists in the victory.

Sean Pedulla led the charge offensively for the Hokies, putting up a game-high 22 points, while shooting 46.2% from the field. This performance is the best by the sophomore guard this season.

For the Cavaliers, Jayden Gardner led his team with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overpower the Hokies.

Tech had a total of 31 rebounds with 28 of them being defensive and put up three blocks to keep the blue and orange at bay.

The Hokies improved their in-conference record with this win, but they are still struggling at 4–8 in the ACC and are sitting in the bottom four of the conference. However, the morale boost of taking down the No. 2 team in the ACC, and the biggest rivals to the Hokies, at home could be the boost Tech needs.

“We’re trying to make it back from the abyss, that’s a step ahead,” Young said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but … let’s hope that we can continue to move in a positive direction.”

There isn’t much time for Tech to rest, with the next game being Wednesday against another ACC foe, Boston College (11–12, 5–7. ACC) at home. When Tech faced the Eagles in December, they suffered an overtime loss in Massachusetts. The Hokies will look to ignite a win, and revenge, streak against them while working to improve their losing in-conference record.

HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Virginia Tech Hokies guard Sean Pedulla (3) hyped after scoring two points and winning an extra free throw, Feb. 4, 2023.

VIRGINIA TECH SOFTBALL ENTERS 2023 WITH FEW UNKNOWNS IN ITS INFIELD

MICHAEL PLANEY | SPORTS STAFF WRITER,

Previewing the Hokies’ infield situation ahead of the season’s start on Friday.

The defending ACC Regular Season Champion and No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies begin play on Friday and their infield isn’t much of a mystery.

Riding the coattails of a dominant campaign that saw Virginia Tech host NCAA postseason games for the first time ever, Coach Pete D’Amour hasn’t seen much change in his infield.

All four starters from the 46-win team are returning, some of whom for a final time.

First baseman Jayme Bailey will begin play in her fifth season this February. She’s a career .579 slugger and has been a cornerstone of the Hokie infield for four years.

The right handed senior played every game of the 2020 and 2021 seasons and has missed only five games since joining the team in 2019.

Bailey’s 2022 campaign can be considered a bit of a down year when compared to her prior three, however, she still played at a level better than most. She recorded 45 hits and scored 32 runs for a .287 average and a .505 slugging percentage. She appeared in 54 of Virginia Tech’s games, missing only two.

At second base, Cameron Fagan will return for her third season with the Hokies.

The back-to-back All-ACC Second Team and 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team junior started all but one game during Virginia Tech’s run to the super regional playoff last season. Through two seasons at the collegiate level, she’s hit .373 and slugged .523.

After making the ACC-All Freshman Team in 2021, Fagan’s numbers declined slightly in her first full season as a starter, but still yielded an impressive 65 hits and 42 runs scored. In 300 career at bats, she’s earned 112 hits and driven 49 runners home.

Conversely, Fagan’s defense improved between the two campaigns. She recorded fewer errors in her sophomore season than her freshman, despite making 21 more starts across the former. Up 47 points from the year prior, her fielding 2022 percentage ended at .936.

Fellow All-ACC Second Teamer Bre Peck is returning to the infield for her second season.

Starting 50 games at third base in 2022, Peck led all Virginia Tech batters with 11 home runs and earned herself ACC All-Freshman Team honors in the process. Peck’s slugging percentage of .588 put her third best among her teammates, driving in 34 runs and recording

19 extra-base hits while in the process.

The righty was a good base runner in 2022, successful on all three stolen base attempts, but left herself room for improvement defensively by recording 15 errors and posting the lowest fielding percentage among Hokies.

Rounding out last year’s starters is career .633 slugger Kelsey Bennett, who will return to the infield for her fifth season as one of the program’s most decorated players.

Bennett, the 2019 ACC Freshman of the Year and three-time All-ACC player, transitioned from third base to shortstop in 2021 and made the change permanent in 2022.

After breaking multiple freshman program records and the all-time Virginia Tech slugging percentage record in 2019, she played at the same stand-out pace during the 2020 season.

Bennett’s offensive stats have cooled down slightly in the two years since the shortened season, however, her defensive skill has only grown with experience. In 2022, she recorded more putouts and fewer errors than in either of her prior full-length seasons.

The righty sits on seven Virginia Tech career hitting leaderboards. Bennett needs only 11 home runs and 20 RBIs to take first place in both categories. Her slugging percentage of .633 is only 1 point behind current teammate Grace Chavez for all-time best.

Virginia Tech’s dugout only adds to the two current and former All-ACC talents on either side of second base.

Righty infielder Addy Greene adds yet more talent to the already skilled Hokie infield. The junior from Suffolk, Virginia is two points away from being a career .300 hitter and has plenty of experience in the field and the batter’s box.

Greene split 44 starts between third base and shortstop in 2021 and played an additional 37 games in 2022. During game three of Virginia Tech’s series against then-No. 2 Florida State in March, she notched an inside-the-park grand slam.

Rostered as an infielder, junior Madison Hanson provides D’Amour an option on offense as a designated player and pinch runner. The 5’11” Smithfield, Virginia native has played in 32 games over the course of her three-year tenure with the Hokies.

Fellow junior infielder Maija Louko has appeared 43 times over the past two seasons,

almost exclusively as a pinch runner, and provides similar assets to her team. The righty has scored 19 times in her career and appeared last postseason as well.

Having previously started games at shortstop, sophomore Rachel Castine gives Virginia Tech even more defensive depth. As a freshman, her fielding was perfect and she notched a three-run home run in her seventh at-bat of the season. She made nine total appearances; two of her starts came as the designated player.

The Hokies have added two new players to their infield this season, both with strong resumes.

Graduate student Shanan Hester spent four seasons at Roanoke College playing as both an infielder and a pitcher. Through 125 total games at the Division III level, she’s recorded 137 hits, 49 extra-base hits and 89 RBIs. She’s a career .540 slugger and hit .427 as a senior. Whether or not she’ll see action as a pitcher has yet to be identified, but her career ERA of 3.22 is respectable.

Lone freshman infielder Teagan Thrunk will likely see action early in the season. Thrunk, the 58th best player in the 2022 signing class, started four seasons as the varsity shortstop at Point Pleasant Borough High School in New Jersey. She was named a PGF Senior

All-American in 2022.

All in all, the 2023 Hokie infield is both deep and wide. It’s got at least one player to fill nearly every role, whether that role comes on defense or offense.

It’s got enough experience to support other parts of the roster as well. This season’s pitching staff is young and most of its players are inexperienced, so the entire team benefits from the fact that the infield is able to balance out the overall team experience.

Virginia Tech as a whole will be tested early, facing off against the defending Big Ten and Big 12 champions Nebraska and Oklahoma State on Feb. 17 before meeting the 2022 national runner-up Texas Longhorns on Feb. 24 and 25. The Hokies won’t have many games to get back into shape, so the infield will need to be ready to play out of the gate.

These infielders have proven capable of playing at a high level, but with more returning experience than anywhere else on the roster, this group will have to prove it can lead to make Virginia Tech’s postseason dreams a reality.

ANTHONY CUSAT / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech’s Darby Trull (4) bats against Louisville, April 23 2022.