Under an overcast, bone-chilling sky, the No. 10 Hokies put on a clinic in front of their home crowd for the very first time in 2023, defeating the visiting Wolfpack 7-0.
It was opening day at Tech Softball Park and the first game action the field had seen since Virginia Tech’s loss to Florida in last May’s NCAA Super Regional. Although the attendance figures seemed pretty measly, they did not accurately represent the soaring enthusiasm Hokie fans had of seeing their team play in-person for the first time in over nine months.
In fans’ defense, few seemed up for an outdoor sports day on Friday. Temperatures sat in the low 40s all afternoon with wind chills making it feel like it was just above freezing. Couple that with a steady drizzle and it’s no wonder why the combined softball and baseball attendance numbers for the day barely cracked 800.
Those who ventured out to Beamer Way witnessed Virginia Tech (12-4, 1-0 ACC) dominate from start to finish, with a big part of that being Emma Lemley (6-1). Lemley, who was named ACC Pitcher of the Week following her performance in Austin, Texas last weekend, wanted to assert herself early, and she did just that.
She retired eight of the first nine NC State (5-11, 0-1 ACC) batters and put Tech in a very comfortable position defensively.
Though offense has been difficult to come by all season for the Wolfpack, it definitely got a little harder following a shocking announcement Thursday afternoon.
NC State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan relieved head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift and assistant coach Patrick Swift of their duties immediately, meaning NC State operated with a recently graduated assistant as the acting head coach.
The temporary coaching staff couldn’t inspire much defensively either.
The Hokies got out to a hot start. Emma Ritter led off the first with a single, advanced on a bunt and scored quickly off a Jayme Bailey outfield single to take a 1-0 lead.
Two walks loaded the bases and Tech made the Wolfpack pay. It notched a trio of singles to allow all runners to go station-to-station and quadrupled the lead to four.
Although the following inning was much quicker, Bre Peck, who was out of most of last weekend’s action with a minor “health issue,” extended the Hokies lead.
Peck crushed a ball to the right field wall that seemingly traveled 199.5 feet, catching the very top edge of the wall before bouncing back in. Peck never missed a beat though, hustling into third base. The throw from right field was not gathered cleanly, though it was still rolling around in the infield. However, with Peck’s speed, the slight bobble was enough for assistant coach Mike Lewis to usher her home.
With Tech leading 5-0, Lemley continued applying the clamps to the Wolfpack offense. Although Rebecca Murray was the only batter to solve Lemley on the day, recording the only two singles off her, the ace was near unstoppable, retiring every single hitter outside of Murray through six innings.
While the Hokies tried sending everyone home early, posting another two runs in the bottom of the fifth as a result of a fielding error, Teagan Thrunk could not close the deal, grounding out before the eighth run could be plated.
Despite Lemley surrendering her first walk of the game in the final frame, she shut the door once again on the Wolfpack and completed the shutout, recording 10 strikeouts in the process.
Following such a dominant performance, there were still plenty of areas of improvement in the eyes of Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour.
“I thought, at times, we swung the bat as well as we have this year,” D’Amour told Tech Sideline. “Other times, we got too aggressive. So I think that if we can swing the bats like we did the first three innings, we’ll be fine.”
D’Amour hopes his team can continue to do just that throughout the weekend as the conditions will be far more pleasant.
Box Score: No. 10 Virginia Tech 7, NC State 0
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Good job, Ishan!!!
Man was it cold out there!
Switched back and forth on ESPN+ between ladies’ game and men’s game. Ladies performance was far less aggravating. 🙂 Good start ladies.
I haven’t found a hint as to reason for NCState firings, other than lack of performance. So, we now fire coaches before the conference schedule even begins?
Something’s gotta be up. Somebody got in someone’s face perhaps. And what’s with the coach being Jennifer Patrick-Swift and the assistant coach Patrick Swift? Just a coincidence? Husband-wife (she took his whole name?) Mom-Son (whimsically giving her hyphenated last name as his whole name?)
they are married.
greene and inscoe were former h.s. teammates too.
OK, thanks…and the name thing? a) she just took his whole name as her hyphenated last name? I mean, none of my business, just never seen that before or is there a story behind it?