Clemson softball – Page 13 – Syndication Server

Clemson softball secures first ACC series win

Clemson softball dominates Lousiville in its first ACC series win.

Clemson softball throttled Louisville 8-0 on Saturday, giving the Tigers their first ACC series victory of the season and improving their record to 21-9.

Capped off by an Alia Logoleo RBI, Clemson left Stuart McWhorter Stadium in the fifth inning on a run-rule victory. The Tigers finished the game with 11 team hits, two of which were home runs from center fielder McKenzie Clark. Meanwhile, the Cardinals struggled to get on base as they had two hits.

Last season’s ACC player of the year, Valerie Cagle, dominated in the circle against the Cardinals and had seven strikeouts. The sophomore now has 96 strikeouts on the season in 80.1 innings pitched.

With Saturday’s win over Lousiville, the Tigers now carry momentum as they host Louisville in game three of the series on Sunday at noon.

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Bart Boatwright’s Photo Gallery: Clemson 8, Louisville 0

Clemson, S.C. – McKensie Clark hit two home runs and Valerie Cagle pitched a two-hitter as the Tigers defeated Louisville 8-0 in five innings Saturday afternoon. Check out some great pictures from the victory in Bart Boatwright’s Photo Gallery.

Clemson, S.C. — McKensie Clark hit two home runs and Valerie Cagle pitched a two-hitter as the Tigers defeated Louisville 8-0 in five innings Saturday afternoon.

Check out some great pictures from the victory in Bart Boatwright’s Photo Gallery.

Late-inning heroics carry Clemson softball past Louisville

Clemson softball held on to just its second conference win of the season Friday night against Louisville at McWhorter Stadium. Thanks to some late-inning heroics from Valerie Cagle and the pitching of Millie Thompson, Clemson (20-9, 2-5 ACC) moved …

Clemson softball held on to just its second conference win of the season Friday night against Louisville at McWhorter Stadium.

Thanks to some late-inning heroics from Valerie Cagle and the pitching of Millie Thompson, Clemson (20-9, 2-5 ACC) moved past Louisville for a 5-2 win.

Cagle was due.

Clemson’s designated player drove a 1-1 pitch down the left-field line in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cagle’s two-run single scored both Maddie Moore and McKenzie Clark to give Clemson a 4-2 lead.

Moore, who came into the game hitting just .163, got the rally started in the home half of the sixth inning. The freshman third baseman, who hails from Loomis (Calif.) narrowly missed her second career home run, as she rifled a double just off the wall in right-center field.

Moore advanced to third with just one out and after McKenzie Clark worked a walk and then stole second. The Tigers scored three runs in the sixth to secure the lead and eventually the win.

Millie Thompson made her eighth start of the season Friday and doing so, pitched her third complete game to date. Thompson (6-1) struck out the side in the top of the first inning, notching her 50th strikeout of the season in the process. She went on to strike out nine batters in seven innings.

The left-handed sophomore out of Bedford (Va.) went seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits. She was pitching an absolute gem until the top of the fifth inning when Louisville’s Carmyn Greenwood took her deep. The senior left fielder’s eighth home run of the season gave the Cardinals a 2-1 run lead.

While the Tigers were eventually able to claw back, the offense got off to another slow start. Prior to Friday’s contest, Clemson had hit a bit of an offensive rut — scoring just three runs in the past two games — which carried over as they kicked off this weekend’s homestand against Louisville.

Clemson was able to get its first run on the board in the home half of the fourth inning, thanks to Sam Russ.

After walking and stealing second — her 13th stolen base of the season — Russ scampered home on an error. Those defensive miscues continued for Louisville as right fielder Vanessa Miller dropped a fly ball on the warning track, allowing Alia Logoleo to reach base and pinch-runner, Carlee Shannon, to advance to second.

Two batters later, Miller made a diving catch in foul territory to end the threat as Clemson left two runners on base. Leaving runners on base became a common theme for the Tigers Friday, until the sixth inning, of course.

After back-to-back losses, Clemson was able to notch an important victory over Louisville Friday. The Tigers will try to win the series Saturday against Louisville with the first pitch at 5 p.m. at McWhorter Stadium.

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Pereira Homers as Tigers Drop Game to Bulldogs

The No. 16/15 Clemson softball team dropped a close battle to the No. 17/21 Georgia Bulldogs, 3-2, on Wednesday evening at the Jack Turner Softball Stadium in Athens. Following the game, Clemson falls to 19-9 on the season as the Bulldogs improve to …

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

“My heart really hurts for our team right now,” said head coach John Rittman. “We aren’t getting the breaks we need in some of these innings, but we continue to fight. We continue to believe, and as long as we are doing that, we’re going to have a chance. Georgia has one of the most explosive offenses we have seen all season, and Valerie (Cagle) did an amazing job in the circle.

Good teams capitalize on errors. We’ve done it in games, and Georgia did it tonight against us. We made a couple of little mistakes that cost us the game. Our team is fighting hard and dealing with a little adversity in some of these close losses, but we will bounce back and get better from this.”

The Tigers took advantage of some early mistakes by the Bulldogs that began with Valerie Cagle reaching base in the first inning as Georgia’s first baseman was pulled off the bag on a short throw. Marissa Guimbarda followed with a walk, and Sam Russ loaded the bases off a throwing error by the second baseman. Redshirt sophomore Kyah Keller drew a six-pitch walk that brought in the first run for the Tigers.

Clemson doubled the lead in the second after Cammy Pereira sent the fifth pitch of her at bat soaring out of right field. This was Pereira’s second home run of the season after hitting her first one in the opening game at FGCU. Georgia responded with a solo homer of its own to cut the Tigers’ advantage back to one run.

The Clemson defense held strong through the middle innings turning a 6-4-3 double play in the third inning, and catcher JoJo Hyatt caught a Bulldog attempting to steal to end the fourth.

The Bulldogs tied things up in the bottom of the sixth after a runner got on following a fielding error by the Tigers and advanced around to score off a wild pitch. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the leadoff batter ripped a single through the right side and was brought home two batters later with a single down the third base line to give Georgia the 3-2 victory.

With the loss, Cagle drops to 7-6 on the season after striking out eight batters and pitching her sixth complete game of the year.

Up Next

The Tigers return home to host Louisville in a three-game ACC series beginning on Friday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at McWhorter Stadium.

Duke wins series over Clemson

Graduate transfer Sam Russ hit her second home run of the season out of center field in the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough as the No. 17/15 Clemson softball team (19-8, 1-5 ACC) dropped the rubber match to No. 13/5 Duke, 7-1, on Sunday …

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

Russ got a hold of the first pitch of her at bat in the seventh inning and drove it out of center field to get the Tigers on the board and prevent the shutout. Sophomore McKenzie Clark and redshirt sophomore Alia Logoleo were the other Tigers to tally a hit in the game.

The Blue Devils capitalized and scored five runs off four hits in the second inning to get the lead. They added their final two runs in the sixth inning off a two-run home run.

Freshman Brooke McCubbin started in the circle and faced nine batters with one strikeout as she fell to 4-2 on the year. McCubbin was replaced by sophomore Regan Spencer in the second inning. Spencer pitched 3.1 innings, facing 16 batters with two strikeouts before being replaced by Millie Thompson. Thompson pitched the final 1.2 frames and finished with two strikeouts for the Tigers.

Up Next

Clemson will continue its road stretch in a midweek matchup in Athens against Georgia on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.

Tigers’ Offense Explodes to Upset Blue Devils in Five

The No. 17/15 Clemson softball team exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning to upset No. 13/8 Duke in run-rule fashion on Saturday afternoon at the Duke Softball Stadium. The Tigers pushed the envelope offensively to post their seventh run-rule …

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

Sophomore Millie Thompson clinched her fifth win of the season pitching all-five innings for the Tigers. She struck out eight batters without giving up a walk to lead the Clemson defense. The offense sealed the deal at the plate picking up nine hits, led by Cammy Pereira going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Marissa Guimbarda tallying three RBIs.

The Tigers broke open the game in the fourth inning that started with Alia Logoleo and JoJo Hyatt reaching after both being hit by a pitch. In an attempt to lay down a sac bunt, pinch hitter Grace Mattimore reached on a fielding error by Duke’s second baseman that allowed Logoleo to score. Pereira would also reach on an error by Duke’s second baseman that brought home pinch runner Ansley Houston to give Clemson a 2-0 lead with no outs.

Clemson continued to bring the heat as McKenzie Clark hit a hard bouncer over the head of Duke’s third baseman to score another run followed by Valerie Cagle drawing a walk to load the bases. Guimbarda came up with her first RBI of the game, bringing home Pereira. Guimbarda was ruled out on the play but action didn’t slow there.

Redshirt sophomore Kyah Keller stepped to the plate and drove a 1-0 count pitch into right center to bring home Clark, and graduate transfer Sam Russ hit a base-clearing triple to tack on two more runs for the Tigers. Clemson added one more run as Logoleo executed a perfect squeeze bunt that scored Russ to give the Tigers the 8-0 lead.

Duke responded with one run in the bottom half of the inning, but Clemson wouldn’t rest.

The Tigers responded with a two-out rally in the fifth as Guimbarda grabbed two more RBIs with a double into right center that scored Pereira and Cagle after they got on via a single and a walk, respectively.

Duke made one final push in the bottom of the fifth to score one run, but it wasn’t enough as the Tigers sealed the run-rule victory, 10-2.

The Tigers improve to 19-7 (1-4 ACC) after handing Duke (22-4 overall, 7-1 ACC) its largest margin of defeat and first ACC loss this season.

Up Next

The Tigers and Blue Devils return to the field for the rubber match tomorrow at 2 p.m. on the ACC Network.

Clark Homers as Tigers Fall to Blue Devils

The No. 17/15 Clemson softball team dropped the opening game against the No. 13/8 Duke Blue Devils, 6-2, on Friday night at the Duke Softball Stadium. Sophomore McKenzie Clark led the Tigers going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, including hitting her …

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

With the loss, Clemson falls to 18-7 overall and 0-4 in ACC action as Duke improves to 22-3 overall (7-0 ACC).

Clark came out swinging in the leadoff position driving the first pitch of the game down the left field line for a double. Clark advanced to third as Sam Russ was called out at first base to put Clark in a position to head home on a passed ball during Marissa Guimbarda’s at bat to give the Tigers the early 1-0 lead.

The Blue Devils evened things up in the bottom of the second with a solo home run and claimed the lead in the fifth to hold a 6-1 advantage over the Tigers.

Clark responded for the Tigers in the sixth by leading off the inning with her second home run of the season, the first to exit the ballpark.

Clemson made a final push in the seventh inning that started with Cammy Pereira dropping a single over the pitcher’s head. She advanced to third off a two-out single from JoJo Hyatt up the middle, but Duke was able to get the final out to cap the game, 6-2.

Up Next

Clemson returns to the field tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. for a rematch against Duke.

Cagle hits two homers on ‘Twosday’ en route to Clemson win

Following a perfect weekend in the Tiger Invitational against Liberty University and Illinois, the Tigers were back at McWhorter Stadium Tuesday evening to face the Winthrop Eagles. Valerie Cagle had an outstanding performance at bat, following an …

Following a perfect weekend in the Tiger Invitational against Liberty University and Illinois, the Tigers were back at McWhorter Stadium Tuesday evening to face the Winthrop Eagles.

Valerie Cagle had an outstanding performance at bat, following an amazing pitching performance the day prior. The Tigers had three home runs in the first five innings, and defeated the Eagles 8-0. The win brought Clemson’s record to 18-6 on the season.

Clemson came out to an early lead when designated player, Valerie Cagle, hit a fly ball over left field. The Tigers’ offense would continue to dominate in the bottom of the second when catcher JoJo Hyatt singled to right field for an RBI, advancing Maddie Moore home for the Tigers, giving them a 2-0 lead.

Behind right-hander Brooke McCubbin, the Tigers had four strikeouts and only allowed one hit in the first three innings.

In the bottom of the third, Alia Logoleo stepped up to plate with Cammy Pereira on first and Marissa Guimbarda on second. Logoleo hit a home run to left field to give the Tigers a significant lead of 5-0.

It was Logoleo’s third home run of the season.

Clemson’s offense continued its home-run streak when once again Cagle hit a bomb out of McWhorter Stadium. It was Cagle’s second home run of the day and seventh on the season. The Tigers expanded their lead to 8-0.

“My second at-bat was a new pitcher, so I ended up popping out on the first pitch,” Cagle said following the win, “but using that to really go into the next at-bat was important because I knew that my swing was good on that one, and I was just a little early.”

After the third out in the top of the fifth, the Tigers won the game due to the run rule.

“Finally a game where we put it all together, and that’s nice to see heading into a tough weekend with Duke,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said following Tuesday’s win. “I’m looking forward to the challenge this weekend ahead of us.”

The Tigers are back in action this weekend in Durham, North Carolina as they face an ACC opponent, the Duke Blue Devils. Clemson is back home in McWhorter Stadium on Saturday, March 26 against the Louisville Cardinals.

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Tigers Tame Flames in Eight Innings

Alia Logoleo made connection with the ball with two outs in the eighth inning, and Liberty’s first baseman made a crucial error that allowed a run to score to give No. 17/15 Clemson its 11th shutout of the season as the Tigers defeated the Flames, 1-0, to conclude the Tiger Invitational. With the win, Clemson improves to 17-6 on the year as Liberty drops to 14-11.

In a pure pitcher’s duel between Clemson’s Valerie Cagle and Liberty’s Emily Kirby, the Tigers and the Flames battled for eight innings with neither side budging an inch. Clemson made multiple attempts in the first seven innings to bring a runner home, but each one fell short.

The first opportunity came in the second inning when Cammy Pereria, who finished 3-for-4 on the day, hit a one out single and Logoleo walked but neither advanced past second base. The Tigers made another strong push in the third as McKenzie Clark ripped her fifth double of the season into center and Sam Russ was hit by a pitch. Both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch but were left stranded to end the inning.

The Flames made their own pushes in the fourth and fifth innings, but Cagle and the Tiger defense put in the work to eliminate all potential threats, pushing the game to extra innings after both sides were tied, 0-0, after seven.

The Flames had a quick three-up-three-down eighth inning, while the Tigers put on the pressure. Marissa Guimbarda started a two-out rally with a ball swiftly hit over the second baseman’s head. Pereira then hit a slow chopper towards the third baseman that was misthrown to advance Ansley Houston to third, who was pinch-running for Guimbarda. To walk it off, Logoleo put the ball in play towards first baseman which resulted in an error and scored Houston from third giving the Tigers the only run of the game.

In the circle, Cagle earned her seventh win and registered nine strikeouts, five hits and no outs before going into extra innings. She added another strikeout in the extra frame to bring her total to 10 strikeouts on the day.

Up Next

The Tigers are back in action Tuesday, March 15 taking on Winthrop in a midweek matchup at McWhorter Stadium at 6 p.m. Clemson will hit the road this weekend to restart ACC play at Duke beginning on Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m.

Clemson moves Winthrop game

Clemson, S.C. – In anticipation of inclement weather on Wednesday, March 16, Clemson softball head coach John Rittman has announced changes to the team’s midweek schedule. Clemson will now play a single game on Tuesday, March 15 at 6 p.m. against …

Clemson, S.C. – In anticipation of inclement weather on Wednesday, March 16, Clemson softball head coach John Rittman has announced changes to the team’s midweek schedule.

Clemson will now play a single game on Tuesday, March 15 at 6 p.m. against Winthrop, rather than the regularly scheduled game on Wednesday.

Tickets for Wednesday’s game are still valid for Tuesday’s game.