On an evening where the Hokies could do nothing offensively, Jayme Bailey’s line drive home run represented a glimmer of hope for a normally explosive offense getting no-hit on its own turf. Instead, like she had done 22 times prior, Charlotte’s Sam Gress (10-4) effortlessly slammed the door shut on the Hokies and sealed the 3-2 victory.
The 49ers (16-12, 4-2 C-USA) pulled off their second upset of Virginia Tech (22-6, 8-1 ACC) in as many years on Wednesday. Last season’s matchup took place in Charlotte, where the home team knocked around Keely Rochard for six hits and five runs, beating the then-No. 6 Hokies 5-2. After Tech managed two runs, the Niners tightened up their pitching and rode a couple solo shots to victory.
A similar situation took place at Tech Softball Park in 2023.
Tech returned home after a seven-game road stretch to the friendly confines of TSP, a place where it hadn’t yet lost a game. And it seemed like it would stay that way after the start from Emma Lemley (14-2).
The sophomore was shoving early, putting out the first eight batters with ease and striking five of them out. However, much like Sunday’s game against Georgia Tech, Lemley’s perfect start was spoiled by a homer into left field.
Lexi Winters was the guilty party this time, squaring up the ball perfectly to put the visitors in front, 1-0. Kassidy Krupit duplicated Winters’ shot by sending another ball over Emma Ritter’s head to double the 49ers’ lead.
Meanwhile, Gress no-hit Tech through six innings, pitching perfectly to contact and generating routine pop flies and groundouts for her fielders. All VT could muster against her in the first six frames was a walk by Cameron Fagan and Meredith Slaw inducing a throwing error to get on base.
While the best home run-hitting team in the country was getting no-hit, Charlotte continued to beat the Hokies at their own game.
As Lemley continued racking up swinging strikeouts, 13 of them till that point, pinch hitter Kiyah Garrett paid her no respect, adding another insurance run in the same location as the first two homers, sending the traveling 49ers fans into a frenzy.
The inning concluded soon after, and despite Lemley allowing just four hits and recording 14 punch outs, she was undone by the long ball, a method of winning that the Hokies have adopted many times this season.
Although Bailey was able to break the no-no up in the bottom of the seventh, retaliating with a homer after Fagan was walked again, Addy Greene and Slaw both hit into the right field shift, as they had done multiple times before, ending the Hokies’ hopes and issuing them a shocking loss.
Even though Lemley lit up the stat sheet with her pitching performance, it was Gress’ contributions in the circle that made her the game’s MVP.
Tech hopes to rebound on Friday against Chattanooga (14-10) in the first game of another non-conference weekend series.
Box Score: Charlotte 3, No. 11 Virginia Tech 2
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Overall good article, but I wish you guys would stop using the terms “shoving” and “shoved”. It makes no sense in the context of baseball and softball.
It really isn’t a shocking loss is it. Actually i blame Chip. He posted on the message board basically all the Charlotte stats that showed why VT could lose. I blame him.
Chip, are you aware of any discussions between the coaching staff and Emma regarding the high rate of home runs allowed? I.e., any talk of figuring out how to vary speeds or locations more? Good hitters know how to lock in on low-movement fastballs, even very good fastballs.