Writing HERstory: Emma Lemley's Legacy

“I want people to remember the kind of person I am rather than the player I was.”  

Virginia Tech softball’s Emma Lemley is a player unlike any other. Her prowess and determination in the circle accompanied by her warmth and smile in the dugout makes her one of the most recognizable student-athletes at Virginia Tech.  

In their opening weekend against College of Charleston, Lemley became the sixth pitcher in program history to throw a perfect game. The No. 18 Hokies defeated College of Charleston 10-0, with Lemley recording eight strikeouts over 15 batters. When asked what going through her mind during the game, Lemley remarked that she felt incredibly determined to continue to get batters off the plate.  

Determination must have followed her into week two of the season because just five days after she became the sixth pitcher to throw a perfect game, Lemley broke another record and became the first pitcher in program history to throw back-to-back perfect games.  

In the opening day of the Purple and Gold Challenge, the 18th-ranked Hokies defeated No. 21 Northwestern 3-0. Lemley led the charge, throwing her second straight perfect game. Her 16-strikeout game also made her the second Hokie to ever record a perfect game against a ranked opponent (Keely Rochard vs. No. 17 JMU in 2019).  

Knowing what was at stake in the back of her mind, the senior pitcher took each batter one by one and continued to focus on the next strike. 

When asked how it felt to secure the historic feat, Lemley said she felt overjoyed and that it was one of the best experiences of her life

Lemley is one of six pitchers on the Virginia Tech softball pitching staff. Tech’s stacked roster of talented pitchers makes them one of the most notable and intimidating pitching staffs in the entire NCAA. The Hokies are the only team in the country with a 0.00 ERA after opening weekend. Not only are they each incredibly talented in the circle, their culture and strong bond as a team is nothing less than remarkable. 

The culture of the team is something that continues to stand out for Lemley. After working with former Navy Seal and Performance Coach, Jason Kuhn, the 22-person roster worked together to get their minds on the same page and in the right headspace for the 2025 season.  

“It's really cool to see everybody 100% in on that [winning] mindset,” Lemley said. “Everybody being on the same page of wanting to achieve this level of excellence is really awesome.” 

 Lemley’s recent success on the field is backed by years and years of dedication and hard work that started when she was just 8 years old.   

The daughter of Virginia and Bryan Lemley, Emma first picked up softball in the first grade after joining the local rec league down the street from her home.  

A native of Forest, Virginia, Lemley has been surrounded by love and support throughout her softball journey. When asked how her hometown helped shape her, the senior responded with, “Growing up in that kind of town has really encouraged me to keep going. It's a very supportive place.” 

Forest and the surrounding Lynchburg area continue to support Lemley’s softball career by driving down to her games or supporting her from afar.  

"Everybody still supports me at Tech,” Lemley said. “They come watch us when we play at Liberty. They come to watch games down here. Just about everybody I know from Forest still follows Virginia Tech softball.” 

The senior’s stats and accolades speak for themselves. Lemley has garnered over 20 awards since her 2022 freshman season. To name a few, Lemley was tabbed the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year and is a three-time All-ACC selection. She has been named to the USA Softball Top-50 Player of the Year watch list three times and back-to-back ACC Pitcher of the Week for the past two weeks.  

Lemley remarked that she is most proud of receiving the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year honors in her inaugural season with the Hokies.  

The history-making Hokie always knew Virginia Tech was her home. She never considered looking at other programs, even at the advice of those around her. 

Fast forward to 2025, Virginia Tech and the community surrounding the softball program continue to inspire Lemley every day. Whether it be from the young players asking her to sign a ball following a game, or from interactions with her coaches and support staff, every encounter reminds her why the long hours of training and work make it all worth it. 

Emma Lemley will be engraved in the history books as one of the best pitchers in Virginia Tech program history. However, her skills as an athlete are not what she hopes her legacy will be. Instead, Lemley hopes she is known for the type of person she is and how her interactions impacted others. She also hopes that the younger players continue to love and enjoy every moment.

Following the conclusion of the spring season and graduation, Lemley hopes to remain close to the diamond by becoming a collegiate pitching softball coach herself. Although it’s hard not to picture Lemley in maroon and orange, she looks back on her time in Blacksburg with sincerest gratitude and thanks. 

“I'm just so thankful for Virginia Tech,” Lemley said. “For the fans, my coaches, the support staff that we have, everybody still sticking by me and having faith in me throughout my four years here has really meant a lot to me.”