Huemul Mata

Mata joined the Hokies in April of 2023 and recently completed his fourth season with the Hokies in 2026.

The Hokies' offense has improved tremendously in the three years that Mata has been on staff. One of the best men’s fastpitch pitchers in the world, Mata regularly throws batting practice for the Hokies. 

The Hokies earned eight All-ACC selections in 2026 – headlined by Bree Carrico and Jordan Lynch earning First Team All-ACC honors. Carrico was also selected as the ACC Freshman of the Year. Additionally, eight Hokies garnered NFCA All-Region honors, and Carrico (Third Team) and Lynch (Second Team) were honored as All-Americans by the NFCA.

Additionally, the Hokies broke eight major offensive single-season records, including batting average (.347), hits (573), RBIs (438), walks (244), on-base percentage (.432), runs (460), doubles (112) and sacrifice flies (21).

In the two seasons prior to Mata's arrival, Tech hit .313 with 166 home runs and a .533 slugging percentage. In the 2024-26 seasons, the Hokies have hit .338 with 325 home runs and a .625 slugging percentage. Tech has been to the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons he has been on staff.

The Hokies had seven All-ACC selections – headlined by ACC Player of the Year Cori McMillan – in 2025. Leading the nation with 31 home runs, McMillan broke the Virginia Tech single-season home run record (31) and slugging percentage record (1.047). She is one of just nine players in Division I history to hit 31 home runs. Aditionally, six Hokies garnered NFCA All-Region honors.

Mata is a native of Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina. He has been playing with the Argentinian National Team since 2015, earning a World Cup Championship and a Pan-American Gold pitching for the national team.
 
During his time with Argentina, Mata has been a part of numerous International Championships, including leading Argentina in 2019 to a XVI WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup victory with a 3-2, 10-inning victory over Japan.
 
Mata Led the World Cup in wins (4) and tied for second in strikeouts (49) in 28.1 innings pitched. In the final, he tossed a 10-inning complete game, adding 17 strikeouts and allowing just four hits.
 
In 2019 and 2022, Argentina won the Pan-American Gold. Mata was the winning pitcher in the final against the United States in 2019, marking the first time in history that Argentina won the gold.
 
Playing for the Kitchener Hallman Twins, Mata helped the team to a second-place finish in the ISC World Tournament in 2019 and 2021. During the 2022 season, the Hallman Twins were ISC World Tournament Champions, with Mata earning First Team All-World. He was also named the Most Outstanding Pitcher at the tournament.
 
During the summer of 2023, Mata is playing for the Niagara Stompers, who most recently won the ISC Canada East Championship. Mata was named the top pitcher of the tournament.