Tag: Valerie Cagle

A historic moment for Clemson softball

Postseason softball is coming to Clemson. The Tigers found out their NCAA Tournament fate Sunday after making a run to the ACC tournament championship game for the second straight season. But unlike last year, Clemson won’t be traveling to begin …

Postseason softball is coming to Clemson.

The Tigers found out their NCAA Tournament fate Sunday after making a run to the ACC tournament championship game for the second straight season. But unlike last year, Clemson won’t be traveling to begin NCAA Tournament play.

For the first time in the program’s brief history, the Tigers will play host to a regional. Clemson is the 10th overall seed in the 64-team tournament, which was revealed during the NCAA selection show Sunday night. The Tigers may have to travel for a super regional since they’re not a top-8 seed depending on how the rest of the bracket shakes out, but Clemson first has to get out of a double-elimination regional that includes UNC Wilmington, Auburn (39-15) and Louisiana (45-11).

Clemson will open regional play against UNC Wilmington (32-13) on Friday at noon at McWhorter Stadium.

The Tigers’ regional host nod comes in just their second full season as a program and third overall. Clemson is making its second straight tournament appearance after playing in the Tuscaloosa Regional a season ago. But after failing to get out of that regional, the Tigers have never advanced to a super regional, giving the program an opportunity to make even more postseason history this year.

Clemson enters the tournament with some momentum, vaulting to No. 8 in the NCAA’s RPI rankings last week even with its loss to Florida State (No. 3 RPI) in Saturday’s ACC tournament final. The Tigers have won six of their last seven games and five straight at home dating back to April 16. Clemson is 22-5 at McWhorter Stadium this season and won three of its four ACC home series, including a sweep of Georgia Tech in its final home league series last month.

The Tigers are led offensively by outfielder McKenzie Clark (team-high .327 average) and shortstop Alia Logoleo (14 home runs and 43 RBIs, both team-highs). Of course, the Tigers also one of the nation’s top two-way players in sophomore Valerie Cagle, who’s hit 12 homers with 40 RBIs and has a 2.05 earned run average in 146 ⅔ innings pitched.

Congratulations! You did it! You graduated! Now is the time to preserve your diploma in a custom frame. Here at Clemson Variety & Frame, we build all our frames in-house – from the frame to the mats and etchings to the installation – to guarantee the quality. You worked hard for your degree. Trust us to show your diploma in the best light possible.

Clemson falls late in ACC softball tournament final

It was deja vu for Clemson’s softball team Saturday. The Tigers advanced to their second straight ACC tournament championship game before suffering the same fate. A four-run sixth inning propelled Florida State to an 8-6 win over the Tigers at …

It was deja vu for Clemson’s softball team Saturday.

The Tigers advanced to their second straight ACC tournament championship game before suffering the same fate. A four-run sixth inning propelled Florida State to an 8-6 win over the Tigers at Pittsburgh’s Vartabedian Field.

The Tigers lost to Duke in last year’s tournament final. Now Clemson (39-15) will wait to see if they’ve done enough this year to host a regional for the first time in program history. The Tigers, who began the day at No. 8 in the NCAA’s latest RPI rankings, will find out Sunday when the NCAA Tournament field is revealed.

Alia Logoleo got Clemson a little closer in bottom of the seventh with a two-out RBI single, but FSU reliever Kathryn Sandercock got Sam Russ to line out for the final out, continuing Clemson’s wait for its first-ever conference tournament title.

FSU (52-5) plated three runs on three hits in the first against Valerie Cagle to erase Clemson’s 1-0 lead after half an inning, a run the Tigers scored thanks to a pair of Seminole errors. But Clemson answered with a three-spot of its own in the third with two walks and a pair of hits in the frame, knocking FSU starter Mack Leonard out of the circle after just 1 1/3 innings.

McKenzie Clark provided the go-ahead knock with a two-run double off Danielle Watson that gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead. Kalei Harding drew FSU even with solo homer in third before Russ put Clemson back in front with just her third homer of the season, sending the first pitch she saw from Watson deep over the right-center wall.

Clemson had a chance to extend its lead in the top of the sixth with a pair of baserunners in scoring position with two outs, but Sandercock got Cammy Pereira swinging to end the Tigers’ threat. The Seminoles went ahead for good during their next at-bat after Cagle issued a leadoff walk to Hallie Wacaser.

Pinch-runner Amaya Ross scored on Kaley Mudge’s sac fly later in the frame. And after Clemson chose to intentionally walk Harding, FSU’s 3-hole hitter, with two outs, Leonard cleared the bases with a three-run shot to right-center that ended Cagle’s day in the circle.

A day after going the distance against Virginia Tech, Cagle (15-8) allowed seven earned runs on six hits while striking out four and walking six in 5 2/3 innings. Sandercock (29-1) got the win for FSU after throwing the final 3 2/3 innings of one-run relief.

Congratulations! You did it! You graduated! Now is the time to preserve your diploma in a custom frame. Here at Clemson Variety & Frame, we build all our frames in-house – from the frame to the mats and etchings to the installation – to guarantee the quality. You worked hard for your degree. Trust us to show your diploma in the best light possible.

Twitter reacts: Clemson softball advances to ACC Championship

Clemson softball is headed to the ACC Championship game and Twitter is excited for the Tigers.

Clemson softball is headed to the ACC Championship game for the second consecutive season after the Tigers took down No. 1 seeded Virginia Tech, 4-1, on Friday.

Clemson shortstop Alia Logoleo led the way offensively in the three-run victory, delivering two solo home runs, the second of which was a bomb to center field. She finished the game batting 2-3 and led the Tigers in hits.

Meanwhile, Clemson pitcher Valerie Cagle had success in the circle, holding the Hokies to four hits in her seven innings pitched and securing the win.

With the victory, Clemson will now play the winner of Florida State and Duke. Clemson was swept by the Seminoles in the regular season and dropped two of its three games against the Blue Devils.

Friday’s victory, however, marks the Tigers’ second ACC Championship game appearance which comes in the first two full seasons in program history.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Clemson’s Tournament victory.

Cagle, Logoleo send Clemson softball to ACC tournament final

For the second straight year, Clemson has advanced to championship weekend at the ACC softball tournament. In doing so, the Tigers further strengthened their chances of making postseason history. Valerie Cagle took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, …

For the second straight year, Clemson has advanced to championship weekend at the ACC softball tournament.

In doing so, the Tigers further strengthened their chances of making postseason history.

Valerie Cagle took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, Alia Logoleo belted two home runs, and No. 16 Clemson exacted some revenge with a 4-1 win over No. 2 Virginia Tech on Saturday at Pittsburgh’s Vartabedian Field. The Tigers (39-14), who were swept by the Hokies (41-7) during the regular season, will take on the winner of Friday’s other semifinal between Duke and Florida State in Saturday’s title game.

It’s a chance for Clemson to claim its first-ever conference tournament championship in just its third year as a program. The Tigers lost to Duke in last year’s tournament final.

And if Clemson hadn’t already sewn up an opportunity to host its first-ever regional in the NCAA Tournament, Friday’s result may have done it. The fifth-seeded Tigers, who began the day 11th in the NCAA’s latest RPI rankings, have picked up wins over two of the league’s top four seeds this week after knocking off Notre Dame (No. 18 RPI) in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Virginia Tech, the ACC’s regular-season champ, is ranked second in the RPI.

Cagle certainly did her part Friday. A hit batter in the third inning was the only baserunner Virginia Tech mustered against the Tigers’ star two-way player until Bre Peck led off the home half of the fifth with a single. But Cagle induced a double play and a popup to keep Clemson’s 3-0 lead intact at the time.

Tech scored in the sixth on Emma Ritter’s fielder’s choice, but Cagle got Morgan Overaitis swinging for the final out to limit the Hokies’ damage in the frame. Cagle scattered four hits, struck out two and walked one in the complete-game victory.

Logoleo got Clemson on the board in the second with a solo home run, her team-leading 13th of the season. Clemson’s sophomore shortstop accounted for two of the five hits the Tigers had against Tech ace Emma Lemley, sending another no-doubter to straightaway center in the seventh for some insurance.

McKenzie Clark walked in the fourth and scored on Marissa Guimbarda’s infield single. Arielle Oda’s sac fly in the fifth scored Sam Russ, who tripled earlier in the frame.

The Hokies got the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Cagle got Mackenzie Lawter to ground into a fielder’s choice to snap Tech’s 10-game winning streak. Clemson has won six straight.

Congratulations! You did it! You graduated! Now is the time to preserve your diploma in a custom frame. Here at Clemson Variety & Frame, we build all our frames in-house – from the frame to the mats and etchings to the installation – to guarantee the quality. You worked hard for your degree. Trust us to show your diploma in the best light possible.

Cagle, Tigers earn five All-ACC selections

Five Clemson softball players earned All-ACC honors, as announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Wednesday, including four players being repeat honorees from 2021. Valerie Cagle, McKenzie Clark, Alia Logoleo and Millie Thompson each earned …

Five Clemson softball players earned All-ACC honors, as announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Wednesday, including four players being repeat honorees from 2021. Valerie Cagle, McKenzie Clark, Alia Logoleo and Millie Thompson each earned their second All-ACC honor as Aby Vieira was a first-time selection.

ACC Release

Redshirt sophomore Cagle (Yorktown, Va.) was the lone Tigers to be named to the First Team as an at-large selection after batting .311 during the regular season with 50 hits, including nine doubles and 11 home runs. She has scored 31 runs and brought in 39 while maintaining a .584 slugging percentage and .371 on-base percentage. In the circle, Cagle has maintained a 1.83 ERA with 14 wins and six solo shutouts. She has pitched 134 innings and struck out 160 batters while picking up three saves. Cagle is the first Tiger to earn back-to-back first team honors for the softball program.

Clark (Myakka City, Fla.) was the only Second Team selection for Clemson after batting .321 through 51 games. She tallied 50 hits, including 11 home runs, and leads the Tigers with a .622 slugging percentage and 37 runs scored. She holds a perfect fielding percentage in centerfield with 43 putouts and four assists. In 24 ACC games, the sophomore leads the team with a .356 average with 26 hits, nine home runs, 19 RBIs and 19 runs scored. She holds a .808 slugging percentage after tallying three home runs in a single game at FSU.

Logoleo and Thompson both earned Third-Team All-ACC honors. Logoleo (Nashville, Tenn.) is batting .271 on the year with 11 home runs, 25 runs scored and 38 RBIs. The redshirt sophomore tallied eight RBIs after going 3-for-4 with two home runs, including a grand slam, against North Carolina.

Thompson (Bedford, Va.) holds a 1.68 ERA in the circle for the Tigers with 12 wins through 22 appearances. The sophomore began the year with a combined no-hitter in her first appearances of the year and earned a solo no-hitter in a midweek against Furman. Thompson has pitched 96 innings with 97 strikeouts. She ranks 12th in the NCAA and first in the ACC in strikeout to walk ratio (6.93), as well as 19th in the NCAA and first in the ACC for walks allowed per seven innings (1.02).

Vieira (Mission Viejo, Calif.) rounds out the Clemson honorees earning All-Freshman honors, her first ACC honors of her career. She leads the team with a .326 average through 35 games this season after clocking 28 hits, including four home runs. She has scored 10 runs while bringing in 13 and holds a .500 slugging percentage.

Up Next

The No. 15/15 Clemson Tigers enter the ACC Softball Championship on Thursday as the No. 5 seed taking on No. 4 Notre Dame at 1:30 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pa. on the ACC Network in the quarterfinals. View the full 2022 ACC Bracket here.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

Congratulations! You did it! You graduated! Now is the time to preserve your diploma in a custom frame. Here at Clemson Variety & Frame, we build all our frames in-house – from the frame to the mats and etchings to the installation – to guarantee the quality. You worked hard for your degree. Trust us to show your diploma in the best light possible.

Clemson softball pacing ACC in this area entering postseason

Clemson’s softball team is streaking into the ACC Tournament on the strength of its work in the circle. The Tigers’ pitching staff has statistically been the best in the league this season. Clemson (37-14) enters the postseason with a 1.77 earned …

Clemson’s softball team is streaking into the ACC Tournament on the strength of its work in the circle.

The Tigers’ pitching staff has statistically been the best in the league this season. Clemson (37-14) enters the postseason with a 1.77 earned run average – a full tenth of a point better than Duke, which has the next-highest team ERA at 1.82. Only two other ACC teams, Florida State (1.85) and regular-season champ Virginia Tech (1.92), possess sub-2 ERAs.

Clemson is led by its top three arms, all of which own an ERA of 1.83 or lower. Valerie Cagle has been the workhorse for the Tigers with a team-high 28 appearances, going 13-7 in 22 starts during the regular season. The right-hander has recorded 160 strikeouts in 134 innings.

Millie Thompson (12-3) and Regan Spencer (6-2) have been just as effective in the circle. Thompson owns a 1.68 ERA while limiting opponents to a .218 average in 22 appearances. Meanwhile, Spencer has been perhaps the Tigers’ most consistent pitcher in her 59 innings of work. Spencer has a team-best 1.07 ERA while opponents are hitting just .209 against the sophomore right-hander.

The staff’s latest gem came in Clemson’s regular-season finale against Georgia Tech over the weekend. Spencer took a perfect game into the fifth inning before a leadoff walk sparked a two-run inning for the Yellow Jackets that tied the game. But Spencer finished the frame before Thompson worked two innings of scoreless relief, setting the stage for the Tigers’ walk-off victory in extras.

“Just so proud of our pitching staff,” Clemson coach John Rittman said afterward. “(Assistant) coach (Kyle) Jamieson does a great job with them. They’ve been phenomenal, and they just keep getting better as the season goes on.”

Clemson has yielded four runs or less in seven of its last 10 conference games and hasn’t allowed more than two runs during its four-game winning streak, momentum the Tigers will try to keep going as the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament. The tournament is slated to begin May 11 in Pittsburgh.

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Clemson sweeps Georgia Tech

Clemson concluded their regular season on a high note today sweeping Georgia Tech in the series finale at McWhorter Stadium 3-2. The marquee win marks the 100th victory in program history. Right handed pitcher Regan Spencer got things started in the …

Clemson concluded their regular season on a high note today sweeping Georgia Tech in the series finale at McWhorter Stadium 3-2. The marquee win marks the 100th victory in program history. 
Right handed pitcher Regan Spencer got things started in the circle with three strikeouts, allowing two runs, and two hits as the Tigers played flawless defense in the first four innings. 
Neither team was able to put up runs until the bottom of the third when Cammy Pereira singled to first on a major fielding error by Georgia Tech shortstop Jin Sileo, allowing Maddie Moore to advance to second. Then McKenzie Clark flew out to right field as Moore advanced to third. With Valerie Cagle at the plate, she doubled to third base, with two RBIs as Perieira and Moore advanced to home plate. At this time the Yellowjackets welcomed a new pitcher when Lexi Ray took over for Chandler Dennis as Clemson led 2-0. 
Fielding errors arose in the top of the fifth when Georgia Tech’s Sandra Beth Pritchett singled to shortstop, and Sara Beth Allen advanced to second and then third on a throwing error by Alia Logoleo. With runners on first and third, Georgia Tech’s Bailee Zeitler singled to left field, bringing Allen home. With Prichett on second and Zeitler on first, Sileo was at bat and struck out but Madison Dobbins stole third, who pinch ran for Prichett. Kennedy Cowden was on the plate and she flew out to right field, as Dobbins advanced home, game tied 2-2. Clemson was unable to respond with runs in the bottom of the fifth. 
Millie Thompson, who took over for Spencer in the circle at the top of the sixth, gave Clemson momentum starting off with consecutive strikeouts but were again unable to regain their lead once on offense. 
At the bottom of the seventh the Yellowjackets put in their third pitcher of the game, Blake Neleman. With a final opportunity to win, Pereira was up first and gave Clemson momentum when she singled down the left field line. Carly Shannon then entered the game pinch running for Pereira and shortly stole second. She advances to third on a wild pitch with Guimbarda at bat who was walked to first. Aby Vieira then struck out, giving them their third out and the game went into extra innings. 
Thompson struckout Sileo and Cowden to start the eighth, and Ella Edgmon grounded out to second base for Georgia Tech’s third out. On their final opportunity at bat, Logoleo singles to shortstop, and Sam Russ bunts and makes it to first. Oda grounds out to second base as Russ advances to second and Logoleo advances to third. Finally, Moore singled down the left field line as Logoleo scored. Thompson finished with four strikeouts, and allowed zero runs and zero hits. 
Senior day ceremonies concluded the game where Sam Russ, Carly Shannon, Emma Whitfield, Cammy Pereira, Bailey Taylor, Marissa Guimbarda, and Grace Mattimore were honored. Clemson ends their season 37-14 (14-10 ACC) as postseason play begins later this month. 

Cagle named 2022 USA Softball Player of the Year top 25 finalist

Clemson standout Valerie Cagle named a 2022 USA Softball Player of the Year top 25 finalist

Via Clemson Athletic Communications press release: 

Clemson softball’s redshirt sophomore Valerie Cagle has been named a top-25 finalist for one of college softball’s most distinguished individual honors, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday. This is the second-straight year that Cagle has earned the recognition.

USA Softball Release

Cagle, a native of Yorktown, Va., serves as Clemson’s ace in the circle and bats third in the Tiger lineup. In the circle, she holds a 13-7 record while maintaining a 1.96 ERA. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Cagle has pitched 121.2 innings and struck out 146 batters, which is 38th in the NCAA this season, while only giving up 30 walks. She has five solo shutouts to sit 26th in the country and second in the ACC, three combined shutouts, and has three saves while limiting opponents to a .227 average. Offensively, Cagle maintains a .302 average with nine home runs, six doubles and 34 RBIs. She has tallied a team-high 42 hits and drawn a walk 14 times. She holds a .540 slugging percentage and .368 on-base percentage.

The list of 25 Finalists will be narrowed to 10 Finalists on May 4 before the Top 3 are announced on May 18. The 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the 2022 NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS), which is set to take place June 2-10 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

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Cagle named 2022 USA Softball Player of the Year top 25 finalist

Clemson softball’s redshirt sophomore Valerie Cagle has been named a top-25 finalist for one of college softball’s most distinguished individual honors, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday. This is …

Clemson softball’s redshirt sophomore Valerie Cagle has been named a top-25 finalist for one of college softball’s most distinguished individual honors, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday. This is the second-straight year that Cagle has earned the recognition.

USA Softball Release

Cagle, a native of Yorktown, Va., serves as Clemson’s ace in the circle and bats third in the Tiger lineup. In the circle, she holds a 13-7 record while maintaining a 1.96 ERA. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Cagle has pitched 121.2 innings and struck out 146 batters, which is 38th in the NCAA this season, while only giving up 30 walks. She has five solo shutouts to sit 26th in the country and second in the ACC, three combined shutouts, and has three saves while limiting opponents to a .227 average. Offensively, Cagle maintains a .302 average with nine home runs, six doubles and 34 RBIs. She has tallied a team-high 42 hits and drawn a walk 14 times. She holds a .540 slugging percentage and .368 on-base percentage.

The list of 25 Finalists will be narrowed to 10 Finalists on May 4 before the Top 3 are announced on May 18. The 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the 2022 NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS), which is set to take place June 2-10 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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Pitching igniting Clemson softball’s late-season surge

With a 19-9 record that included just one ACC win, Clemson’s softball team was struggling to live up to its billing as a preseason top-15 team heading into the last week of March. Things have changed for the Tigers since then. Fresh off a series win …

With a 19-9 record that included just one ACC win, Clemson’s softball team was struggling to live up to its billing as a preseason top-15 team heading into the last week of March.

Things have changed for the Tigers since then.

Fresh off a series win over No. 21 Notre Dame, Clemson has won 14 of its last 16 games. That stretch has included 11 consecutive wins that began with a victory over South Carolina on March 30, and Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Fighting Irish gave Clemson its third straight ACC series win. 

It has helped vault the Tigers (33-11, 11-7 ACC) to fifth place in the ACC standings, just two games back in the loss column of third-place Florida State ahead of the teams’ series in Tallahassee next weekend. It may be difficult for the Tigers to catch Virginia Tech and Duke – teams that are a combined 5-1 against Clemson this season – atop the standings with just two series left before next month’s ACC Tournament, but their hot streak has given them a shot at a second straight top-3 finish after winning their first-ever regular-season conference title a season ago.

It’s been the work in the circle that’s ignited Clemson’s late-season resurgence.

With two-way All-American candidate Valerie Cagle (1.96 earned run average), Millie Thompson (1.61) and Regan Spencer (1.03) pitching most of the innings, Clemson has limited teams to just 2.06 runs per game since a 5-2 win over Louisville on March 25. The Tigers haven’t yielded more than five runs in a game since, and four of the Tigers’ wins during that stretch have been shutouts.

That’s dropped the team’s ERA to 1.80 on the season, second-lowest in the ACC. 

“I can’t say enough about our pitching staff,” Clemson coach John Rittman said.

Cagle didn’t have her sharpest outing Saturday in the series clincher against Notre Dame, but the sophomore right-hander still limited the Fighting Irish to just one run on nine hits in 4 ⅓ innings. Spencer polished off the victory with 2 ⅔ innings of three-hit relief.

“Certainly we didn’t hit the ball like we’re capable of, but credit goes to their pitching staff,” Rittman said. “They kept us off balance all weekend, but we found ways to win two out of three games.”

Cagle went the distance in the Tigers’ 3-2 victory to start the series Thursday, and Thompson was saddled with the tough-luck loss Friday after yielding just two earned runs in six innings. The Tigers failed to muster a hit in the 4-0 loss and needed Cammy Pereira’s walk-off single to squeak out Saturday’s win, but the pitching is keeping Clemson in games as the Tigers wait for more consistent offense to come around.

“(Notre Dame) put a lot of pressure on us and on our defense,” Rittman said. “Valerie gave us all she had, and then Regan stepped in and just did a tremendous job to keep it at 1-1. Got out of some tough situations. Just really proud of Regan and how she’s grown and developed as a pitcher.”

Clemson’s series at Florida State will begin Thursday. The Tigers will close out the regular season with four games the following week, including a weekend home series against Georgia Tech.