BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The No. 10/13 Virginia Tech softball team came from behind 3-0 to defeat the NC State Wolfpack 7-3 on Saturday afternoon. Tech used four home runs to score seven unanswered to take game two of the series.
Sophomore Emma Lemley (8-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Virginia Tech (13-4, 2-0). The right-hander went three shutout innings while giving up two hits, allowing no walks and striking out five.
Junior Addy Greene led the way offensively for the Hokies, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with two home runs and four RBI. She now leads the Hokies in home runs with six. Freshman Kylie Aldridge hit her first career home run, a two-run shot to put the Hokies up 7-3. Junior Emma Ritter also contributed, going 1-for-3 for Virginia Tech with a home run, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
NC State jumped out to the first lead of the game, hitting a three-run home run in the third inning to take the lead. The Hokies battled back, putting up two runs in the fourth inning when Greene left the yard with senior Kelsey Brown aboard.
The Hokies kept the Wolfpack scoreless before tying it up in the fifth. Virginia Tech picked up a run on Ritter's leadoff home run off of junior Aisha Weixlmann, which evened the score at 3-3.
That 3-3 tie turned into a 7-3 Virginia Tech lead in the sixth. The Hokies hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring four runs, a two-run home run from Greene and one from Aldridge. The score remained 7-3 for the rest of the game, as the defense shut down the Wolfpack offense for the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Hokies got two home runs off the bat of Greene.
» Lemley struck out five Wolfpack hitters.
» Greene drove in four runs for Virginia Tech.
» Virginia Tech hitters hit four home runs in the ballgame.
» The Hokies out-hit the Wolfpack at an 8-4 clip.
» Virginia Tech pitchers faced 26 NC State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and six fly balls while striking out nine.
The final game of the series between the Hokies and Wolfpack is set for Sunday at Noon.
Gallery: (3-4-2023) SB: NC State Game 2