No. 12 Virginia Tech Softball Crushes Radford with 3 Home Runs

Hokies extend win streak over Radford to 10 games with powerful offensive display.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:50am

A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in bright orange, blue, and green, capturing the dynamic motion and energy of a softball game.Virginia Tech's powerful offensive display against Radford showcases the Hokies' status as a top softball program.Radford Today

The No. 12 ranked Virginia Tech softball team defeated Radford University 8-3 on Saturday, belting three home runs in the process. The Hokies have now won 10 consecutive games against their in-state rival Radford.

Why it matters

This victory continues Virginia Tech's strong start to the season and showcases the offensive firepower of their nationally ranked softball program. Radford has struggled to find consistent success against the Hokies in recent years, making this another impressive win for Virginia Tech.

The details

Virginia Tech jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning capped by a two-run homer from sophomore outfielder Lily Watts. The Hokies added two more runs in the third inning, including a solo shot from junior catcher Emma Ritter. Radford was able to get on the board with three runs in the fifth inning, but Virginia Tech responded with a two-run blast from senior first baseman Ava Gonzalez in the sixth to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Lily Watts

A sophomore outfielder for the Virginia Tech softball team.

Emma Ritter

A junior catcher for the Virginia Tech softball team.

Ava Gonzalez

A senior first baseman for the Virginia Tech softball team.

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What they’re saying

“Our hitters were really locked in today and it showed with the three home runs. Beating Radford is always a big rivalry game for us.”

— Heather Oakley, Virginia Tech Head Softball Coach

What’s next

Virginia Tech will look to continue their strong start to the season when they host ACC rival North Carolina next weekend.

The takeaway

Virginia Tech's powerful offense and continued dominance over Radford demonstrates the Hokies' status as a top-tier softball program in the ACC and nationally.