Emma Lemley’s second complete-game shutout of the season guided No. 15 Virginia Tech softball past Virginia on Tuesday, 6-0.
“We were ready to play today,” Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour said. “Our approach at the plate was right for the game tonight and Emma threw lights out.”
Lemley threw all seven innings, allowing two hits and two walks, while striking out eight of the 25 batters she faced. Tuesday marked just her fourth complete game of the season, following a 2022 season when she threw 12 and a 2023 campaign when she threw 23.
Lemley didn’t allow more than one baserunner each frame in an inning, aside from the first, when she surrendered a hit and a walk.
“After the first inning, we realized they were really sitting inside and they were ready for those inside pitches,” Lemley said. “We were like, ‘OK, let’s go outside. Let’s work out, let’s work curve, let’s work change.’ Everything was working on that outside corner.”
Tech (32-9-1) notched all of its runs in the second and third innings.
In the second, right fielder Cori McMillan hit a solo home run. Four batters later, catcher Kylie Aldridge singled to score third baseman Bre Peck. After the Cavaliers (28-14) collected two quick outs, left fielder Addy Greene hit a two-RBI double, bringing in Aldridge and designated player Maija Louko.
In the next frame, Peck homered to center field to make it 5-0. Then Aldridge scored second baseman Cameron Fagan on a double to ice the game.
T3 | Kylie is having herself a day 🤩@kyliealdridgeee posts her second RBI of the day! pic.twitter.com/YKBmKD823Q
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) April 16, 2024
Aldridge and Greene led the Hokies with two RBI. Peck totaled three hits, while Aldridge and Greene each had two.
Virginia starter Mikayla Houge failed to record an out into the second inning. She allowed three runs and faced just six batters. Madison Harris relieved Houge and finished the game, also allowing three runs in 28 batters faced.
With their win, the Hokies clinched at least a half point in the Commonwealth Clash. The two teams will rematch in Blacksburg in another non-conference game on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. ET.
Before then, though, both teams will play a conference series this weekend. The Hokies will face Georgia Tech in a three-game set starting on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
“We’ll take tomorrow off and be ready for a good Georgia Tech team this weekend.” D’Amour said.
Box Score: No. 15 Virginia Tech 6, Virginia 0
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Loved the analysis by Lemley, you can be good but still need to outthink the opponent: you zig, we zag. Complete game too, nice. Get under 16 so I can get down for a playoff series please.
Great job of Hokie fans showing up for the game.
Why was this a non-conference game?
Probably not scheduled to play them this year in ACC scedule, but need the games for the commonwealth’s cup.
Bingo
In the ACC schedule rotation, each school misses playing three other schools each season. This year, VT misses FSU, Clemson, and UVA. But of course, UVA and VT want to play each other so they schedule a home and away.
Thanks for the explanation