A year ago, NC State caught Virginia Tech softball on a bad day. The Wolfpack snuck a win in the first game of the series — Tech’s fourth consecutive ACC loss at the time, since it followed a sweep at the hands of then-No. 2 Duke.
This year, the No. 11 Hokies (29-5, 9-1 ACC) were determined to prevent the same fate. And they did, dominating all Friday evening for a 10-2 five-inning victory.
“We talked about [last year] yesterday,” Virginia Tech right fielder Cori McMillan told Tech Sideline. “We were like, ‘They’re going to expect to take one from us again and we’re not gonna let them. They’re gonna expect to come back and catch us on our off day, and we were not going to let them have that.’”
Speaking of McMillan: the senior went 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot, contributing a game-high four RBI. Three of those runs came in the top of the fifth inning, when she hit Tech’s lone home run of the night, also scoring left fielder Lyla Blackwell and third baseman Jordan Lynch.
The blast was McMillan’s 16th of the season. She already holds the program single-season record of 21, which she set last year.
“We did a good job preparing,” she said. “Coach Pete [D’Amour] had us seeing the pitches they were going to throw early — starting yesterday. That’s exactly what I was ready for.”
T5 | IT'S OUTTA HERE‼️ Cori's 16th home run of the season!!
Hokies 10, Wolfpack 2#Hokies? pic.twitter.com/9OO2grP4JB— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) April 4, 2025
It was a team effort for the Hokies, who combined to hit 9-for-19 with runners on base, including a 6-of-13 clip with them in scoring position. On the other hand, the Wolfpack (21-17, 4-9 ACC) went just 1-for-7 with runners on base, including 0-for-4 with them in scoring position.
Other Virginia Tech contributors to drive in at least one run included first baseman Michelle Chatfield, second baseman Rachel Castine and catcher Zoe Yaeger.
In the top of the first, Castine doubled in McMillan to put the Hokies on the board. Later in the frame, Yaeger notched a three-run double, clearing the bases which Lynch, designated player Kylie Aldridge and Castine previously occupied.
In the bottom of the first, NC State shortstop Kendall Simmers homered to put her team on the board.
The Hokies, however, struck back in the fourth. McMillan singled around shortstop Annika Rohs, then Chatfield scored Blackwell through a sacrifice fly.
Wolfpack third baseman Hannah Goodwin reached on an error in the fourth, plating Simmers to cut the deficit to 6-2. The second run was all NC State mustered throughout the evening.
The fifth inning brought four more runs for the Hokies, putting them in run-rule territory. Center fielder Bre Peck scored on a wild pitch, then came McMillan’s homer — the final nail in the coffin.
Emma Lemley threw all five innings and 94 pitches for Virginia Tech, two days following a shutout performance against Liberty. She surrendered just two hits and two runs. Though she walked four batters, 54 of her pitches hit the strike zone and she struck out three batters.
Lemley’s walk total was higher than usual while her strikeout tally was lower, but she found efficiency in other ways and persevered through the duration.
“Probably not my best stuff, but I wasn’t quite getting that curveball, that outside pitch, all night,” Lemley said. “I thought I worked around that pretty well.”
With Florida State’s loss to Virginia on Friday night, Virginia Tech is now tied for first place in the conference standings. Still, D’Amour stressed for his team not to look too much at the big picture and solely focus on the game in front of them.
“We were tenacious tonight in all phases — pitching, hitting and defense,” D’Amour said. “We just never gave up from the first pitch. I’m proud of the effort, we need to bring the same intensity tomorrow.”
The series will continue in Raleigh on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET (ACCNX).