Last weekend the Virginia Tech softball team opened the 2025 season in the best way possible. In five games in Charleston, S.C. in the Charleston Invitational, the Hokies rolled to five wins, outscoring their opponents, 50-0. The Hokies took advantage of North Dakota State, the College of Charleston, and Fordham, winning all five games by the run-rule.
To cap off the weekend, senior Emma Lemley fired a perfect game in Virginia Tech's 10-0 win over the College of Charleston, striking out eight of the 15 batters she faced. It was a statement start to the season for the Hokies who are spending this weekend in Baton Rogue, La. playing five games in the Purple & Gold Challenge at LSU.
Virginia Tech began the action on Friday afternoon and once again, Lemley was dominating in the circle against a Top 25 team.
Virginia Tech softball pitcher Emma Lemley hurls second straight perfect game
The No. 17/18 Hokies opened up play on Friday morning at LSU with an 8-0 win over UT-Arlington, then in the afternoon, Lemley hurled her second straight perfect game in Virginia Tech's 3-0 win over No. 21 Northwestern. She struck out 16 of the 21 batters she faced as the Hokies improved to 7-0 on the season and became the first pitcher in program history with back-to-back perfect games.
𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (Emma’s Version) ✨
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) February 14, 2025
The first pitcher in program history to throw back-to-back perfect games!!! #Hokies🥎 | @Emmmaaclairee pic.twitter.com/6p3pDvydQY
Virginia Tech got a pair of RBIs from No. 8 hitter Trinity Martin and No. 9 hitter Annika Rohs which speaks to the depth of the lineup this season. Offensively the Hokies should be able to score runs this season and if they can get the pitching from Lemley and Emma Mazzarone, then they are going to be tough. It's tournaments early in the season like this that will help the Hokies RPI come time for the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia Tech has two games on Saturday, in the morning against UT-Arlington again, then the first of two games this weekend with No. 7 LSU at night. The Hokies and Tigers will conclude the weekend on Sunday with one game.