What was supposed to be a routine sweep turned into a weekend nightmare for Virginia Tech softball.
Riding a red-hot 17-game winning streak and sitting tied atop the ACC standings with Florida State, the 11th-ranked Hokies headed to Pittsburgh expecting business as usual. But what unfolded at Vartabedian Field was anything but.
Despite Pittsburgh entering the series at a dismal 4-14 in ACC play and on the outside of the conference tournament picture, the Panthers flipped the script. Thursday night’s opener saw the Hokies stunned in a 7-6 walk-off loss in nine innings — a warning sign that not everything was clicking.
The Hokies responded emphatically in Game 2 on Friday afternoon with a jaw-dropping 21-0 demolition, launching 11 home runs in the process. Cori McMillan belted three of them, breaking her own single-season home run record with No. 22. The offensive onslaught also featured bombs from Michelle Chatfield, Zoe Yaeger, Jordan Lynch, Kylie Aldridge, Bre Peck, Rachel Castine, Trinity Martin, and Nora Abromavage.
But as powerful as the Hokies’ bats were, their pitching — particularly ace Emma Lemley — couldn’t sustain the momentum. In the rubber match Friday evening, Virginia Tech blew a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning as Lemley faltered again. She finished with six hits, five earned runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts over 5.2 erratic innings. After her team rallied on a go-ahead three-run homer by Chatfield, Lemley gave it all back in the bottom of the frame, surrendering a decisive four-run inning.
It was a disjointed and uncharacteristic series for a Hokies team that has dominated most of the season. And now, the consequences are real.
With the loss, Virginia Tech’s chances of hosting the opening round of the NCAA Tournament are suddenly in jeopardy. The path forward is clear but demanding: win the upcoming cross-country series against California, handle Florida State in their final ACC regular season showdown, and make a statement at the ACC Tournament in Boston.
One bad weekend doesn’t define a season — but this stumble in the Steel City may prove costly if the Hokies can’t regain their footing fast.