Hokie Spotlight: Cori McMillan

BLACKSBURG – Hailing from Greensboro, North Carolina, senior outfielder Cori McMillan has continually proven why she’s one of the ACC’s strongest softball athletes with her play this spring. It’s no secret that her clutch hitting and impressive defensive presence has been massive for the No. 11 Hokies who, thanks to McMillan’s timely hitting in the Stanford series, have won 14 straight matchups. As the softball season begins to round third, the Hokies have shown no signs of slowing down – and McMillan is helping lead the charge.  

McMillan’s collegiate softball journey started in the New River Valley at Radford University. As a freshman, the former Highlander would post 14 home runs, 13 doubles and a team-leading 36 RBIs in her inaugural campaign, doing so on a .365 batting average through 49 starts. For her impressive first season, McMillan would be recognized in a host of different ways, including First Team All-Big South, Big South All-Freshman, First Team NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region and VaSID All-State Second Team nods. McMillan’s momentum continued to soar as a sophomore, earning All-Big South acknowledgment for consecutive seasons off a team-high .486 slugging percentage. Her nine doubles, three triples and three home runs accounted for 23 RBIs during her second year.  

After entering the transfer portal at the close of her second year as a Highlander, McMillan would ultimately decide to travel across town and play for Virginia Tech. The decision came paired with a change from third base to outfield for the new Hokie – and McMillan hasn’t looked back since.

In her first season donning maroon and orange, McMillan saw a rise in nearly every measured softball statistic. The Greensboro native sent a team-high and single-season program record 21 home runs over the wall as a junior with her power-hitting and efficiency at the plate (.379 batting average) contributing to her 64 RBIs through 51 games. McMillan’s speed was also on display throughout the season, as the junior would go a perfect 20-for-20 on stolen base attempts on the year. All eyes were on McMillan at the end of her first year as a Hokie, as her efforts earned her All-ACC and NFCA Second Team All-American honors. 

The Hokies currently sit tied atop the ACC with a conference record of 11-1 and an overall record of 33-5. McMillan, who was a D1 Softball Preseason First-Team All-American, is one of the biggest reasons why Tech has enjoyed such success. On a team-best .465 batting average, the now-senior has slashed an ACC-leading 17 home runs and 43 RBIs on the season alongside 10 doubles through 38 consecutive starts. The senior leads the team in total bases (114), slugging percentage (1.000), and runs (45), and continues to set records while doing so.

Perhaps none of her 17 home runs were more important than her game-winning solo shot against Stanford on March 30. Knotted against the Stanford Cardinal at 5 runs apiece in the bottom of the ninth, McMillan sent the second pitch she saw soaring over the batter’s eye, a shot that not only confirmed a series sweep but improved the Hokies to 8-1 in conference play. The home run also lifted Virginia Tech Softball into history, as both baseball and softball would sweep their ranked opponents on the same weekend for the first time in school history.  

McMillan and the Hokies will see the diamond next for a three-game home series against Notre Dame from April 11-13. The games, which take place during Hokie Hi Weekend, are free to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Be sure to see the Hokies electrify the diamond when they take on the Fighting Irish this weekend!