In a clash that had all the makings of a postseason classic, the Pittsburgh Panthers pulled off a dramatic 7-6 walk-off win in the ninth inning against the red-hot No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies on Thursday night. The loss snapped the Hokies’ incredible 17-game win streak — the longest active run in NCAA Division I softball — and gave Pitt its first ACC series opener win of the season.
Virginia Tech (36-6, 14-2 ACC) entered the series riding high after sweeping Notre Dame and celebrating pitcher Emma Lemley’s selection to the inaugural AUSL draft. The Hokies had been dominant in nearly every aspect, leading the ACC in all major pitching categories except ERA and opponent batting average, where they still held second place. They also led the nation in shutouts, blanking opponents in 18 of their 41 games prior to Thursday.
But despite their statistical dominance, Virginia Tech found itself in a back-and-forth slugfest with the underdog Panthers (15-26, 5-14 ACC), who refused to go quietly.
The Hokies started strong, plating a run in the second inning and adding two more in the third to go up 3-0. However, Pittsburgh responded in stunning fashion with a four-run bottom of the third, turning the game on its head and taking a 4-3 lead.
The fourth inning saw Pitt add two more runs, widening the gap to 6-3. But Virginia Tech wasn’t done yet. They clawed back with two runs in the fifth and tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth, showcasing the resilience that had defined their season so far.
Both teams battled through a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, with Pittsburgh threatening in the eighth by putting runners on second and third. However, the Hokies escaped the jam.
The ninth inning proved decisive. With two outs on the board, the Panthers came through in the clutch, walking it off in front of a stunned Virginia Tech bench.
While the Hokies still lead the ACC and remain a formidable postseason contender, this loss serves as a wake-up call. Pittsburgh, despite its sub-.500 record, proved it can go toe-to-toe with the nation’s best.
The two teams will meet again Saturday in a doubleheader to wrap up the series, with Virginia Tech looking to bounce back and reassert its dominance.