Clemson Softball made history on Saturday, March 11th, as they extended their home-winning streak to a program-record 23 games. The Tigers had two dominant wins against Jacksonville and UNC Greensboro, with nine different players contributing to the 15 runs scored and 20 hits on the day. Let’s take a closer look at the game highlights and scores.
Vs. Jacksonville – W, 9-0 (5)
Clemson Softball showed its dominance right from the beginning of the game. Here’s how they did it:
Strong start with a nine-run first inning
Clemson Softball opened the game with an impressive nine-run first inning off six hits, setting the tone for the rest of the game. McKenzie Clark began the action with a leadoff double, followed by a single from Maddie Moore to bring Clark home and put Clemson on the board. Valerie Cagle and Caroline Jacobsen added singles to bring home more runs, with Alia Logoleo recording her 23rd RBI of the season.
Stellar pitching from Brooke McCubbin
Sophomore Brooke McCubbin pitched a strong game, picking up her third and fourth strikeouts for two quick outs in the third inning. She also made a critical defensive play, fielding a ball cleanly and firing a throw to JoJo Hyatt at home to tag Jacksonville’s runner just before she touched home, preserving Clemson’s 9-0 lead.
Solid defense
Clemson Softball’s defense was on point, with double plays completed by Ansley Houston, Grace Hiller, and Kyah Keller. Keller also caught a line drive at first base and stepped on the bag to turn her own double play in the bottom of the fifth inning. McCubbin secured the shutout win with five strikeouts.
Vs. UNCG – W, 6-1
Clemson Softball continued its hot streak in the second game of the day against UNC Greensboro. Here’s how they did it:
Strong hitting in the first inning
Valerie Cagle got on base with a single, and Caroline Jacobsen hit a deep ball to center field, bringing Cagle home to give Clemson an early lead of 1-0.
Bases loaded in the fifth inning
In the fifth inning, the bases were loaded after Oda, Vieira, and Keller got on base. Reedy Davenport brought Oda and Vieira home with a two-RBI single to center, extending Clemson’s lead.
Impressive pitching from Valerie Cagle
Valerie Cagle pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts, preserving the shutout until the seventh inning when UNC Greensboro scored one run.
On Wednesday, March 15th, the Tigers will play at McWhorter Stadium against Charlotte during their home stretch. The game will start at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
