![Softballs in a bucket before the game between the Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers during the softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 6, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Ncaa Softball Florida Gators Vs Auburn Tigers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_5472,h_3078/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/233/01jtca05bex5y48t3smn.jpg "Softballs in a bucket before the game between the Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers during the softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 6, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Ncaa Softball Florida Gators Vs Auburn Tigers")
Facing a huge final ACC series of the 2025 season, the Virginia Tech softball team hosted No. 9 Florida State on Saturday afternoon looking to bounce-back from a series opening loss on Friday night to the Seminoles.
FSU slugged their way to a 13-4 victory in the opener, and less than 24 hours later, the Seminoles picked up where they left off the night before, but this time, they did so against the Hokies' ace, Emma Lemley.
Before Virginia Tech has even able to get to bat in the bottom of the first, they were facing a 2-0 deficit and in the end, the proved to be too much for Virginia Tech to overcome. Florida State pitcher Jazzy Francik held a powerful Hokies lineup in tact all afternoon. She didn't allow a hit, mixing her pitches and not giving in to any hitters. She finished with three walks and just three strikeouts and relied on her defense on their way to the run-rule victory.
On the flip side, Lemley was not herself as the Seminoles put up eight earned runs on her on nine hits and a pair of walks. Lemley finished with three strikeouts, but she allowed two home runs in 5.2 innings before Cassie Grizzard got the final out of the sixth inning.
The loss dropped Virginia Tech to 39-10 overall and 17-6 in the ACC with the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock. The 15th-ranked Hokies will look to avoid a sweep as their chances of hosting a Regional in the NCAA Tournament in a couple of weeks might have gone up in smoke with the first two results of the series. They would like to head into the ACC Tournament next weekend at Boston College on a winning note.