BLACKSBURG, Va. – The No. 12/16 Virginia Tech softball team wraps up its homestand this week, hosting Longwood in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The first game will be streamed on ACCNX, with the second game at 6 p.m. on ACC Network.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hokies went 1-2 over the weekend, falling in their first two games of the series to No. 13/13 Duke, but battling back to win game three 13-8. Sophomore Emma Lemley (17-3) got the win for Virginia Tech (27-8, 9-3). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up eight runs, allowing no walks and striking out seven. Junior Emma Ritter put together a strong outing at the plate Sunday, hitting two homers and adding 4 RBI to lead the offense. Jayme Bailey added to Ritter's performance by going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
RITTER RAKES
Emma Ritter hit .400 over the four games played for the Hokies last week, bumping her overall batting average to .373 on the season. The outfielder had four hits, including one double and adding two home runs in the final game of the series against Duke to help lead the Hokies to the win. She finished with four RBI and a 1.100 slugging percentage, adding three walks and a .571 on base percentage. Ritter was also 2-for-2 on the weekend in stolen bases, adding to her perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases.
FIRST OF THE SEASON
Both Meredith Slaw and Rachel Castine hit their first home runs of the season in the series against Duke. Slaw hit her first in game two against the Blue Devils, knocking the ball over the left field fence in a pinch-hit opportunity. Slaw ended her 2022 season with nine home runs and a .353 batting average. Castine's first home run of the season in game three against Duke sparked the comeback for the Hokies. The sophomore got the start at shortstop and hit a home run in her first at bat of the game, as the Hokies came back from a 5-0 deficit to win 13-8.
UP NEXT
The Hokies hit the road for the first time in two weeks, making the trip to Charlottesville to face Virginia in a three-game series in the annual Commonwealth Clash. Game one is set for Thursday at 5 p.m.