The No. 16 seed Clemson softball faced off against the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma Sooners in the opening game of the 2023 Norman Super Regional. Despite their efforts, the Tigers couldn’t overcome the powerful Sooners and ended up losing the game 9-2. Let’s take a closer look at the game and how it unfolded.
Clemson’s Performance at the Plate
Valerie Cagle and Aby Vieira were the standout performers for Clemson at the plate. Cagle had an impressive 3-for-4 performance, while Vieira contributed two hits of her own. In total, the Tigers managed to accumulate eight hits during the game. Other players like Ally Miklesh, Caroline Jacobsen, and Alia Logoleo also made their mark with crucial hits. Jacobsen was responsible for both RBIs scored by the Tigers.
Oklahoma’s Early Lead
In the first inning, Clemson’s Cagle hit a double to get a runner on base, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. The Sooners took advantage of a hard-hit ball by Jada Coleman to grab a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Clemson tried to respond, but Vieira was left stranded after a two-out single. Oklahoma extended their lead to 2-0 with runners on the corners and a passed ball.
Clemson’s Attempts to Score
Throughout the game, Clemson made multiple attempts to get on the scoreboard. In the third inning, Miklesh and Cagle hit consecutive singles but were unable to score. The Tigers continued to put pressure on the Sooners in the following innings, with Logoleo being hit by a pitch and Vieira recording her second single of the game. However, the Sooners managed to get the necessary outs to prevent Clemson from scoring. After four innings, the Sooners led 4-0.
Oklahoma’s Additional Runs
Clemson finally managed to get on the board in the top of the fifth inning. McKenzie Clark was hit by a pitch, and Cagle’s third hit of the day advanced her to second base. With only one out, Jacobsen hit a two-RBI double down the third base line, bringing the score to 4-2. Unfortunately, the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on this momentum shift, as Oklahoma responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning, including a grand slam and a solo home run, further extending their lead to 9-2. Clemson made a push in the later innings but failed to close the gap, resulting in a loss.
Despite their strong efforts, the Clemson Tigers couldn’t overcome the dominant performance of the Oklahoma Sooners in the opening game of the Norman Super Regional. The Tigers showed resilience and had notable performances at the plate, but ultimately fell short. They will have another chance to bounce back in the second game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.
