Virginia Tech true freshman Nora Abromavage (7) was mobbed by her teammates after her clutch performance. (Virginia Tech athletics)

If you predicted Nora Abromavage would be the one to knock the pinch-hit, go-ahead single to propel No. 14 Virginia Tech softball past North Carolina to a 4-0 win and advance to the ACC Tournament semifinals, go buy a lottery ticket.

Tar Heels (40-15, 15-9 ACC) pitcher Kenna Raye Dark had tossed a complete game shutout against Notre Dame the day before to advance to the quarterfinals, then limited the Hokies (41-10, 18-6 ACC) to three singles and no runs across the first five frames on Thursday. Then, with rain pouring down on Boston College’s campus and as Carolina’s pitcher approached triple digits, she started to let up.

Virginia Tech designated player Kylie Aldridge doubled down the right field line to lead off the sixth; her line drive deflected off Tar Heels first baseman Carlie Myrtle’s glove and rolled into the outfield. Then center fielder Bre Peck grounded out, left fielder Trinity Martin singled and first baseman Emily LeGette reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Emma Mazzarone pinch hit for shortstop Annika Rohs and struck out — which prompted head coach Pete D’Amour to pinch hit Abromavage in place of second baseman Rachel Castine.

“I remember looking down when they first called Maz up to hit, and then I saw Coach Pete and Mike talking and I saw them peek down at me, so I assumed they were gonna call me,” Abromavage said. “I was actually mentally ready to go a little earlier than when he would call me just right before to tell me to start warming up.”

Some context here is important. Abromavage is a true freshman. She has appeared in 25 games this season, largely as a pinch runner, and started once — against NC State on April 5, when much of the team was unavailable due to a stomach bug. She’s collected just 14 at-bats in her collegiate career, many of which came in blowouts when the games were all but finalized. In other words, her at-bat on Thursday — with the bases loaded and two outs — was the highest-leverage situation of her career.

No matter. Abromavage sent a 1-2 pitch — Dark’s 107th of the evening — in the gap between first and second base. Lyla Blackwell — who pinch ran for Aldridge — scored, then Carolina right fielder Alex Coleman bobbled the ground ball, which brought around Martin for a 2-0 advantage.

“I’m getting more comfortable as I get more opportunities,” Abromavage said. “The past couple of times, I’ve been a lot looser and ready to go than the first time going up.”

The Hokies weren’t done. Abromavage’s single flipped the order for ACC Player of the Year Cori McMillan. Tech’s right fielder ripped an opposite field double off the wall, scoring another two runs to build an insurmountable lead.

Lost in the shuffle of the unlikely heroes were the likely ones. Emma Lemley threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout, maintaining enough gridlock to keep her team in the contest when it failed to score. The one hit she surrendered came in the second inning to designated player Kiannah Pierce. Otherwise, she shut down Carolina with three walks sprinkled in, accruing six strikeouts in the process. 

Lemley held the Tar Heels hitless with runners on base (0-for-5), with runners in scoring position (0-for-3) and with two outs (0-for-6). The Hokies were far from perfect in situational hitting — they were 5-for-17 with runners on base, 3-for-10 with them in scoring position and 4-for-10 with two outs — but they made enough plays when it mattered to win.

“I knew throughout the whole game that we were gonna win. There was never a moment of doubt,” Lemley said. “In the sixth inning, I got them all together and I was like: ‘Just give me one [run], and I’ll give you three [outs]. One. Just give me one.’ And they were a little extra — they gave me four. 

“We had a lot of fight in us. We were not going to lose that game. That was not an option.”

Zoe Yaeger notched Tech’s first two hits with a single in the first and another in the third. Otherwise, the team was hitless through four frames. It also only had one in the fifth, courtesy of Jordan Lynch, before the floodgates opened in the sixth.

“Wins are all that matters,” D’Amour said. “It doesn’t matter how pretty it is or how we got the win. I thought we swung OK tonight, we got some barrels, but we just kept in the fight.”

LeGette started at first base in place of Michelle Chatfield, who sustained a left wrist injury during the last game of the regular season vs. Florida State. The ACC Network reported she will be unavailable through the rest of the ACC Tournament. The sophomore has a .382 batting average with 15 home runs and started every game in the regular season. As a result, D’Amour had to shuffle his lineup in Chestnut Hill.

Postseason play is far from over, though. The Hokies will face Clemson in the ACC Tournament semifinal on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET. If they win, they will advance to the final on Saturday.

Box Score: Virginia Tech 4, North Carolina 0