For the final time in 2026, Virginia Tech softball plays an ACC series. The Hokies are set to contest Syracuse in a three-game series starting Friday at 2 p.m. ET. To frame the stakes of the contest, the No. 17 Hokies (41-9, 15-6 ACC) are situated in a similar proposition to their series against Syracuse two seasons ago: Win the series to keep regional hopes alive. That year, Virginia Tech lost the series, a key reason in what kept the Hokies from hosting a regional. Arrived in the 315 👋 #Hokies pic.twitter.com/ZBkh47sYw2 — Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) May 1, 2026 This time around, Virginia Tech enters the stretch run with several struggles. The Hokies dropped two of three to Georgia Tech to lose the series, then sustained a 10-9 loss against Liberty three days later. Virginia Tech fell behind 10-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, and though it mounted a five-run charge in the bottom of the frame, it could not supplant the Flames.…