Although it’s been almost three years, Hokies pitcher Emma Lemley still vividly remembers the game.
It was April 10, 2022. No. 4 Virginia Tech was in the final game of its three-game series at No. 2 Florida State in Tallahassee. It had won the first two games 6-3 and 23-9 — an FSU record for most runs allowed in a game — and was trying to sweep the series.
The Hokies led 6-3 in the sixth inning when Lemley entered the game in relief of starter Keely Rochard. Unfortunately, the umpires elected to make an issue of her pitching motion, calling her for multiple “illegal pitches” for her plant foot leaving the ground during her delivery.
Lemley struck out Seminoles shortstop Josie Muffley three times in the same at-bat, but the illegal pitch calls waved them off. Muffley finally drew a walk via four illegal pitch calls, and the Hokies were incensed — both head coach Pete D’Amour and pitching coach Doug Gillis were ejected from the game. Lemley departed after just two batters, both of whom walked due to illegal pitches, and the Noles won 8-6.
Lemley can laugh about the illegal pitches today, but she admits it was a very frustrating experience at the time.
“During the games, I let it fuel me, but after the games, it would really get to me,” Lemley told Tech Sideline ahead of the 2025 season. “Sometimes I would get into the car with my parents and just cry. … There seemed to be a lot of pitchers around the country that were doing the same thing but weren’t getting called for it. It was almost like bullying. … But in the end, I think that helped me mentally. Having to strike people out three times in a row, I discovered that I could get through a lot of stuff.”
The Jefferson Forest product was named the ACC Freshman of the Year after finishing with a 16-6 record, a 2.12 ERA, and 212 strikeouts in 139 innings. However, the illegal pitches followed her into the next season until the NCAA finally rescinded the rule in August 2023.
While still dealing with those calls, Lemley also handled a change in pitching coaches. At the beginning of the 2023 season, Gillis was relieved of his duties and assistant coach Mike Lewis took over the pitching responsibilities in addition to his regular tasks.
“Coach Mike was having to coach everybody,” Lemley said. “He was coaching the pitchers, he was coaching the catchers, he was coaching the defense. He had so much on his plate because we were short one coach. …
“[I] not only lost my pitching coach, but I had to change the way I pitched. And we only had three pitchers that year. That was a rough year, but we got through it.”
Lemley proceeded to throw a career-high 212 innings that season, which led the ACC, and recorded a conference-best 282 strikeouts, a mark that ranked third in the country. Yet, she suddenly had doubts about her own ability and goals.
“After my sophomore year, I didn’t know if I wanted to play softball anymore,” Lemley said. “That was such a rough year. I felt lost in my pitching.”
Despite that, she never considered transferring to another school.
“Virginia Tech is the perfect school for me,” said Lemley, who hails from Forest, Va., just outside of Lynchburg. “It’s close to home. I’ve had a lot of family that’s gone here. I love my team. Coach Pete has trusted me through a lot of different stuff. He’s trusted me when a lot of other people might not have, so I never wanted to give up on Virginia Tech. I think this is where I’m supposed to be. I love my friends, I love my coaches, I love the program I’m in. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“And Virginia Tech fans have stuck behind me through a lot of stuff. I really appreciate our fans. I remember the fans yelling at the umpires my freshman year when they did me wrong. Everybody had my back. None of our fans ever lost faith in me.”
Before the 2024 season, the Hokies hired Josh Johnson as their new pitching coach, a move that thrilled the junior pitcher. Nevertheless, it was her third mentor in as many years and it took them some time to get on the same page — particularly with analytics.
“I was never a pitcher that looked at data very much, but now I love it,” Lemley said.
And after a year of working with Johnson, Lemley expects big things for her senior season.
“Having the stability of getting to know a coach and having that relationship with your pitching coach really makes a difference,” Lemley said. “I can speak for all the pitchers here that the relationship with Coach Josh is really good. We trust him. It’s really, really good.”
That makes Lemley very eager for the upcoming season, which begins on Friday, Feb. 7, in Mount Pleasant, S.C., vs. Fordham (10 a.m. ET).
“I feel really good right now,” Lemley said. “I’m throwing hard when we’re live — getting up there to 68 [mph]. And I’m not peaking yet. My rise is looking better than it’s ever been. I’ve been throwing more changeups than I usually do and drop balls when I need to. I feel really good.”
But she hasn’t been the only one dealing in practice ahead of the opener. The Hokies added another right-handed pitcher in Indiana transfer Sophie Kleiman to go with their two lefties, Emma Mazzarone and Cassie Grizzard, which gives them a variety of options.
Lemley’s been really impressed by Mazzarone, who posted a 3.35 ERA in her first year at the collegiate level while striking out 65 batters in 71 innings. That included a six-strikeout outing in her first ACC contest vs. Notre Dame and a career-high nine in a crucial victory at Syracuse.
“Maz has been hitting really well and she’s been pitching really well,” Lemley said. “I think from her freshman year to her sophomore year, she has matured a lot as a player and her skills have gotten better. She has really impressed me.”
Mazzarone is just one of Tech’s sophomores who has improved, though, along with catcher Zoe Yaeger. The freshmen have caught her eye as well. The young players should mix in well with the team’s veterans.
“Once the freshman got their bearings, they’ve all been doing really well,” Lemley said. “Jordan Lynch has really impressed us, both in hitting and fielding. She’s a great kid. We’re excited to see her play.
“And we still have Cori [McMillan], we have Bre [Peck]. Rachel [Castine] is back as well as Michelle [Chatfield]. … We still have some big bats and people that can produce a lot of hits and a lot of runs. Everybody is a year older and has had time to get better. Everybody is looking really good right now. People are ready to step up.”
As for Lemley, she’s grown from her trials and tribulations over the last three seasons and is mentally tougher as a result. She’s also taken bits and pieces from her three pitching coaches and blended them together.
“Emma has been a stalwart for our program since the day she arrived on campus,” D’Amour said. “She has faced her share of adversity, but she’s always faced that adversity with tenacity, focus and a forward-thinking mindset. I’ve always valued her selflessness, competitiveness and love for Virginia Tech.
“She’s put in a lot of work this offseason, and we’re looking forward to her performing again as one of the top pitchers in the country while cementing herself as one of the best pitchers to ever put on a Virginia Tech softball uniform.”
Lemley quickly moved up Virginia Tech’s all-time record book and is already in the top five in strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, win percentage, saves and opposing batting average. She’s in the top 10 in five other categories, too.
Friday’s opener can’t come soon enough for Lemley, who hopes to end her career on a high note.
“We have a lot to accomplish this year,” she said. “We believe we can win the ACC, we believe we can make it to Oklahoma City. We believe we can beat anybody. I think some people are underestimating us, but we believe we can beat anybody. … I think we can go really far this year.
“I am so thankful to be a Hokie, so thankful for the fanbase that has stuck with me, so thankful for Coach Pete and Coach Mike and Coach Josh and all of my teammates. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”