Virginia Tech softball makes NCAA Tournament hosting case after loss

Virginia Tech ranks eighth nationally in total wins, but 65th in strength of schedule. The Hokies are, however, 8-4 against top 25 RPI teams and 10-3 against teams ranking 26th to 50th in RPI, which stands for rating percentage index, a statistical formula used by the NCAA Selection Committee to rank teams based on their performance and strength of schedule.

If the Hokies don’t host, they’re likely going to be a real pain for one of the other top 16 seeds. Virginia Tech is a combined 37-6 on the road and at neutral sites this season. Virginia Tech is 6-0 on the road this season against SEC teams, too, notching sweeps of South Carolina, Auburn and Georgia.

“If we don’t host, I don’t care,” D’Amour said. “We’re good on the road.”

The start of the NCAA Tournament coincides with graduation weekend for the Hokies. Asked if the lack of hotel rooms available in the Blacksburg area would impact Virginia Tech’s ability to host three other teams in a sub-regional, D’Amour didn’t think it would be a factor.

“No. That’s for someone else to decide,” D’Amour said. “If we host, we host. If not, then somebody’s going to be mad — and it’s not going to be me, it’ll be the other teams we play.”

Virginia Tech last hosted games in the NCAA Tournament in 2022, when it was the No. 3 overall seed. That was also the last time the Hokies advanced to a Super Regional.

D'Amour has at least one vocal supporter in his corner: ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. He believes the Hokies should be a top 16 seed, along with Florida State, Stanford and Duke.

“To me, there's been four ACC teams that have distinguished themselves to host,” Phillips told USA TODAY Sports. “Virginia Tech is a team that's been tremendous all year. It played in the championship game, lost a one-run game. Strength of schedule, RPI and all of those indexes indicate that they are certainly worthy of a top 16 spot.”

Florida State coach Lonni Alameda echoed Phillips’ comments about the strength of the conference in softball this season.

“I've been in the league for almost 20 years now,” Alameda told USA TODAY Sports. “The whole East Coast has upped their game in softball. It’s neat to see it grow. This league is for sure tougher than it has been in past years.”

ESPN2 will broadcast the selection show for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Tech softball hoping for top 16 seed on Selection Sunday