The No. 5/5 Clemson Tigers welcomed their in-state rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks, to McWhorter Stadium on Tuesday night for the first game of a home-and-home series in the Palmetto Series presented by S.C. Education Lottery. The Tigers entered the matchup with an impressive 33-1 record (9-0 ACC) and were on a remarkable 18-game winning streak, thanks to their explosive offense and dominant pitching staff.
Clemson’s potent offense was on full display from the very first inning. Valerie Cagle got the scoring started with a single through the right side that brought in McKenzie Clark. Alia Logoleo followed that up with a single to shortstop that scored Cagle, giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
The Tigers continued to pour it on in the third inning, with Cagle launching a towering home run to center field that extended the lead to 3-0. South Carolina’s pitching staff simply couldn’t contain Clemson’s potent bats, as JoJo Hyatt and Logoleo each added RBIs of their own in the fourth inning.
But it wasn’t just the Tigers’ offense that was firing on all cylinders. Clemson’s pitching staff was dominant as well, maintaining a 0.72 ERA through 205 innings pitched. Against South Carolina, they allowed just one run on four hits while racking up nine strikeouts. The Gamecocks simply couldn’t muster any offense against Clemson’s pitching, as they were shut out until the ninth inning.
Despite the impressive performance from Clemson’s offense and pitching staff, the Gamecocks made a late rally in the ninth inning. A double from Josiah Sightler and a single from Colin Burgess brought in two runs, but it was too little, too late for South Carolina. The Tigers held on for the 7-2 victory, extending their home winning streak to an incredible 28 games.
Clemson’s performance on Tuesday night was just the latest example of why they are one of the top teams in the country. With a .359 team batting average, a .617 slugging percentage, and a .447 on-base percentage, the Tigers have one of the most explosive offenses in college softball. And with a pitching staff that boasts a 0.72 ERA and 194 strikeouts in just 205 innings pitched, it’s clear that they can dominate on both sides of the ball.
The win over South Carolina also marked the start of the Palmetto Series presented by S.C. Education Lottery, a series of athletic contests between Clemson and South Carolina that takes place throughout the year. The winner of the series receives a trophy and bragging rights for the year. With Tuesday night’s win, the Tigers are off to a strong start in the Palmetto Series.
As the season continues, Clemson will look to build on their impressive record and make a deep run in the postseason. With a team as talented as this, anything is possible. But for now, the Tigers can take pride in their dominant performance against their in-state rivals and look forward to the rest of the Palmetto Series game at Carolina on April, 11 2023 at 6pm.
Next ACC matchup is March 31, 2023, at 6:00 PM, Clemson will play against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The ACC Network will broadcast the event.
