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Virginia Tech Softball: Tech Smolder Flames to Earn Season Sweep
In the second game of the season for these two in-state foes, the No.11 Virginia Tech Hokies (29-5, 8-1 ACC) did not allow a run in their 6-0 win over the No. 24 Liberty Flames (31-7, 11-0).
In the last contest, Emma Lemley, the Lynchburg area native, no-hit the Flames in a five-inning contest that was called due to run rule. She would once again be getting the start for Tech in the circle today.
The thought of Lemley riding her previous no-hitter into this game was nullified on the second pitch of the game, when Liberty infielder Savannah Woodard lined a soft double into left-center to start the game. Two walks drawn from Rachel Roupe and Brynn McManus would load the bases for Liberty. Lemley would extinguish the Flames’ attack, retiring the next two batters in succession to get out of the jam.
“I really think I just had trouble finding the umpire’s zone in the first inning. I usually never walk two people in the first inning of a game… I thought after the first inning it was going to be another 130-140 pitch game,” Lemley said. “I was just able to make adjustments, and re-focus, and center in, and just trying to spin the ball and get them out the rest of the game.”
Tech would ambush Liberty pitcher Elena Escobar early, with right fielder Cori McMillan leading off the bottom of the first with a no-doubt moonshot over the left field wall.
A double from infielder Rachel Castine would continue the rally for the Hokies before Bre Peck would ultimately cash in Castine with a warning track RBI single that would extend the Hokies’ lead, 2-0.
Catcher Zoe Yaeger would strike out, signaling the end for Escobar’s day, lasting just one inning. Similar to the last start against the Hokies, Liberty’s gameplan was to use Escobar as an opener and bring in Paige Bachman to do the heavy lifting in the circle today.
A lone single from Flames catcher Savannah Jessee was the only action until the bottom of the third. With two outs, Tech would bring a two-out rally into fruition—A single from Kylie Aldridge followed up by a four-pitch walk to Peck brought freshman Jordan Lynch up to the plate. After falling back 0-1 in the count, Lynch turned on her pitch, sending the ball soaring over the right field fence for a three-run home run.
“I was just seeing the ball very well… I knew I had to change up a little bit because they had just brought in a drop ball pitcher, so I really need to get under the ball… I swung and missed on the first, so I was like ok, let me reset, get the next one and then I hit it and it felt really good,” Lynch said.
Liberty would have its next scoring chance at the top of the fifth. A full-count sharply hit ball to Annika Rohs at shortstop caused some trouble in field, allowing Rachel Craine to reach base on an error. Woodard would wear a pitch to move Craine up 60 feet into scoring position. Lemley once again, in a jam with two outs, found her final two outs of the inning to escape unscathed.
The Hokies needed three runs to end the game early in the fifth due to run rule against the Flames once more. Another double from Aldridge and a passed ball that followed placed her at third with no outs. Peck would draw a walk to put runners on the corners, and Liberty head coach Dot Richardson decided Bachman’s day was done, making her last pitching change to sophomore Kaylan Yoder.
Lynch would tally her fourth RBI of the game, on Yoder’s first pitch, sending the ball blasting right back up the middle. With no outs, it looked like Tech could end this game early, but Yoder didn’t allow another hit in the inning.
Lemley would pitch herself into one more debacle, when it seemed like the Flames would amass their own two-out rally. A single from Paige Doerr would put runners on the corners for Liberty. Lemley, who focused in, would not let this attack rattle her, striking out Jessee to end the frame.
“We try to kind of preach pitch-to-pitch, just win this next pitch, and I think last weekend prepared me for those moments, because there were a lot of big moments… So when I have people on first and third like that, I’m just trying to keep that pitch-to-pitch mindset.”
Lemley would close out the game for the Hokies en route to a nine-strikeout performance, her fifth of the sort this season. Almost doubling her strikeout count from the five she picked up in Lynchburg.
Tech will now travel down to face the N.C. State Wolfpack in an ACC conference matchup in Raleigh, NC. The series will start Friday at 6 p.m. with coverage available on the ACC Network.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Five people were charged after Virginia Beach Police conducted a two-day human trafficking and vice operation on July 3, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department’s Special Investigations Bureau conducted the operation, which was aimed at identifiying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for commercial sex and targeting individuals seeking to exploit or recruit children for prostitution.
Detectives used many investigative techniques to proactively identify individuals involved in criminal activity related to prostitution, human trafficking and offenses against children. The operation was conducted in Virginia Beach, involving personnel from all of the bureau’s squads.
As a result of the operation, five people were identified and charged with offenses ranging from solicitation of prostitution to sex trafficking and crimes involving minors. Two vehicles and U.S. currency were seized during the operation. Other people were connected to victim services through Samaritan House.
The operation led to the following people being charged:
- Shane Carter, 28, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
- Robert Harris, 64, of Virginia Beach, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and assault and battery.
- Larry Pittman, 53, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking and use of electronic devices to facilitaate certain offenses involving minors.
- Kenric Frazier, 46, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking, use of electronic devices to facilitate certain offenses involving minors and solicitation of child pornography.
- Cameron Lewis, 24, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Investigators also developed leads about people who are suspected of trafficking and exploiting others for commercial sex. Those are now active and ongoing investigations. There may be more charges and arrests pending further investigation and consultation with the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
If you’re a human trafficking victim or know someone who is, you can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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