Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 10 No. 5 | May 2018

32 Inside Hokie Sports Moving Made Simple www.lawrencemoves.com Coward’s decision eventually solidified itself when he came to Blacksburg for a visit. He, like many others, found out quickly that if you want to pursue business or engineering among friendly folks surrounded by a beautiful setting, then you need to come to Southwest Virginia. “It was a mix of academics, baseball and the campus in general,” Coward said. “I had taken a few visits to ACC or ACC-caliber schools. The one thing that stood out about Virginia Tech … I’ve been to a lot of schools and I’ve been to all the ACC schools pretty much, and I still think this is the most beautiful campus on the East Coast. I really believe that. That was one part that really sold it for me. “I didn’t know if I wanted to come into engineering or business. I was interested in both, and obviously Pamplin [the Pamplin College of Business] is a top-50 business program in the country and engineering is in the top 10 or top five in the country. I couldn’t miss with either one, and obviously, with baseball, they had just hosted the regional the year before I committed [in 2013] and they were a top-20 team, so they were an up-and-coming program in the most competitive conference in the country. I had the potential to play all four years, which I’ve done.” Coward struggled, though, during the first two of those four years. He pitched in 32 games combined and recorded ERAs above 7 each year. His confidence took a predictable tumble in his first ACC start when he lasted just 22 pitches against Duke. But his career turned last year during a relief outing against Florida State—ranked No. 1 at the time. He pitched four innings and allowed just a hit, as Tech rallied from a 10-7 deficit to get the victory. Coward himself got the win and subsequently worked himself into the weekend rotation. Three weeks later, he received the start against then-No. 4 Clemson. Nearly 5,000 fans gathered at Clemson’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium, but Coward managed to hang in there, allowing just four earned runs in 6.1 innings. He struck out eight. “It was loud and rowdy,” Coward said. “I went seven innings, and that’s when I realized, ‘OK this is the biggest stage in the ACC. They have the best team in the ACC. They have the best pitching staff and the best hitters. If I can compete at that level and go seven and be in the ball game, I can pitch anywhere.’ I think that’s what turned it around for me.” Coward finished his junior season with a 5-4 record and a 4.75 ERA. He tied for the team lead in wins, and he led the team in both starts (12) and innings pitched (72). Some speculated that he would be selected in the Major League Baseball First-year Player Draft, but that never materialized. Truthfully, he spent little time thinking about the draft. Not being drafted actually took the decision out of his hands, and in essence, left this “old soul” with what he wanted all along—a chance to play baseball for the Hokies for another season, while also allowing him to get closer to a degree in marketing. “The degree I’m working on now will be worth a lot more than a signing bonus some day,” Coward said. “So I’m pleased with where I’m at as far as academics. My priority was always school first. I think I’m in a good spot to achieve what I wanted to achieve here.” Coward may get drafted this June—his numbers certainly warrant that —but for now, only the current season receives his intense focus. That and his relentless pursuit of that diploma. A freshman year spent Continued from page 30