Early in the 2025 softball season, there has been no pitcher better than Virginia Tech's Emma Lemley. She has been on top of her game and in her senior year, she has been great. On Wednesday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky, the Wildcats found out first-hand how good Lemley has been.
Already with two perfect games and a no-hitter this year, Lemley fired a no-hitter against Kentucky with a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning being the only baserunner as the No. 16 Hokies improved to 20-5 with the win. Kentucky, which is ranked 23, fell to 17-7 and they were coming in off an impressive sweep of Missouri.
4th no-hitter of the season for Emma Lemley#Hokies🥎 pic.twitter.com/e0OcKlo5Us
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) March 12, 2025
Offense has been the Wildcats' strong point this season, but not against Lemley, who struck out nine and relied on her defense. Left fielder Lyla Blackwell helped her pitcher out with a diving catch in the bottom of the second of a line drive from the leadoff batter.
B2 | Lyla Blackwell lays out and secures the ball 🔒 pic.twitter.com/H9zqhnOHGq
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) March 12, 2025
Lemley told the ESPN broadcast on SEC Network+ that she was having trouble with her command last weekend against Virginia and worked on her rise pitch before the game. It's safe to say that she had her command back along with her rise ball.
Virginia Tech gave Lemley the only run she would need before she even threw her first pitch. Bre Peck had a two-out RBI single in the top of the first inning that scored Cori McMillan who walked to leadoff the game. The Hokies added an insurance run in the top of the fourth when Jayden Jones drove in a run on an RBI groundout.
It was a short stop in Lexington for only one game as the Hokies will continue to Louisville for a three-game weekend series against the Cardinals, which is their second ACC series of the season after taking two out of three against the Cavaliers last weekend.