Hokie ClubTUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Virginia Tech fell to 15th-seeded Alabama, 3-2, in the Tuscaloosa Regional Final on Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
Rachel Castine’s two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning made it a one-run game, but the Hokies were unable to complete the comeback.
How It Happened
The Crimson Tide threatened immediately with a leadoff triple, but back-to-back strikeouts by Emma Lemley kept Alabama off the scoreboard in the top of the first. After the leadoff triple, Lemley retired the next nine Crimson Tide batters and held Alabama scoreless through four innings.
The Crimson Tide struck first in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Emma Lemley walked in the first Alabama run of the game. Alabama scored two more off a two-RBI single to left field to make it 3-0 through the top of the fifth.
The Hokies threatened in the bottom of the fourth with two runners on but were unable to bring them across the plate.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and a runner on first, Rachel Castine blasted her seventh home run of the season down the left field line to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Hokies were unable to tie the game.
Game Notes
• The Hokies advanced to their program-record sixth straight NCAA Regional
• Tech’s 43 wins are the most in a single season since 2022
• Tech’s 43 wins also marks the third 40-win season in the past four years
• The Hokies outhit Alabama 8-6
• Seven different Hokies recorded a hit
• Rachel Castine hit her seventh home run of the season
• Her first hit of the weekend was a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning
• Trinity Martin led the Hokies with two hits
• Emma Lemley threw a complete game with seven strikeouts
• It was her 16th complete game of the season
• She finished the season 18-8 with 196 strikeouts