The Clemson Softball team will travel to their second consecutive big-name in-season invitational to start the season. Florida one weekend, and now headed to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to play in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
Games start on Wednesday when Clemson will play Wichita State of the American Athletic Conference at 1 pm. They will then play the University of California-San Diego on Thursday and the Utah Utes on Friday before concluding their weekend with a doubleheader against two SEC foes, Auburn Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs.
This is a preview of the Tigers’ opponents with early season statistics for each. The statistics will likely change throughout the weekend. (Note: The stats you will read in this will be pre-tournament.)
Clemson started out the season with a rather successful run in Clearwater, starting 4-1 with the only loss coming from the Missouri Tigers in the weekend finale.
Here are the probable starters for the Tigers for the weekend and their early season statistics:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| McKenzie Clark (7) | Centerfield | .357; RBI |
| Alex Brown (25) | Shortstop | .308; 2 RBI |
| Valerie Cagle (72) | 1st Base/Pitcher | .412; RBI |
| Julia Knowler (12) | DP | .438; 2 HR; 7 RBI |
| Alia Logoleo (16) | 3rd Base | .357; HR; 3 RBI |
| Maddie Moore (28) | 2nd Base | .357; HR; 5 RBI |
| Lindsey Garcia (5) | Right Field | .214; 2 RBI |
| Aby Viera (4)/JoJo Hyatt (23) | Catcher | .100/.000 |
| Arielle Oda (24) | Left Field | .250; RBI |
In the circle, the Tigers will throw:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Valerie Cagle (72) | RHP | 1-0; 0.70 ERA; 10 IP; 15 K; Opp.BA: .147 |
| Brooke McCubbin (2) | RHP | 2-1; 2.33 ERA; 9 IP; 11 K, BB; Opp.BA: .256 |
| Millie Thompson (87) | LHP | 1-0; 2.86 ERA; 7.1 IP; 4 K; Opp.BA: .355 |
| Regan Spencer (19) | RHP | 0-0; 0.00 ERA; 4 IP; 3 K; OppBA: .188 |
| Olivia Duncan (44) | LHP | 0-0; 8.40 ERA, 1.2 IP; K, 2 BB; OppBA: .286 |
It is very early in the season, however it was interesting to see that All-American Valerie Cagle, although pitched in 4 games, did not have a start over the first weekend. We shall see if she gets the nod in the circle in any of the games in Mexico.
As for the opponents, the Tigers open up with Wichita State on Wednesday at 1PM. Here is a quick look at the Shockers lineup and early season numbers.
Wichita State Shockers (2-0)
Wins against: Stephen F. Austin; Sam Houston
Coach Kristi Bredbenner – 13th Season at Wichita State
Names and stats to know going into Wednesday’s tilt:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Addison Barnard (30) | Centerfield | .286; 2 HR; 2 RBI |
| CC Wong (36) | 3rd Base | .500; 2 RBI |
| Taylor Sedlacek (29) | Right Field | .400; RBI |
| Bailey Urban (7) | Left Field | .200; 2 RBI |
| Lainee Brown (22) | Catcher | .286; HR; 3 RBI |
| Caroline Tallent (33) | 1st Base | .000 |
| Sami Hood (4) | Shortstop | .143; 2 RBI |
| Krystin Nelson (21) | 2nd Base | .167; HR; RBI |
And in the circle, we can expect to see one of the following:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Alison Cooper (1) | LHP | 0-0; 3.50 ERA; 6 IP; 4 K; OppBA: .280 |
| Lauren Howell (2) | RHP | 0-0; 9.00 ERA; 2.1 IP; 3 K, 2 BB; OppBA: .364 |
| Chloe Barber (26) | RHP | 1-0; 0.00 ERA; 2 IP; 5 K, BB; OppBA: .000 |
| Alex Aguilar (31) | RHP | 1-0; 1.50 ERA; 4.2 IP; 3 K, BB; OppBA: .176 |
Thursday, Clemson will face the University of California-San Diego Tritons at 11 AM. Here is a brief look at what the Tigers will face in game 2 in Puerto Vallarta.
UC-San Diego Tritons (1-4)
Win against: Fairleigh Dickinson
Losses against: Fairleigh Dickinson; Idaho State (x2), Cal Baptist
Coach Patti Gerckens – 32nd Season at UC-SD
Names and stats to know going into Thursday morning’s game:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Morgan Eng (22) | Left Field | .143; RBI |
| Lexi O’Gorman (9) | Centerfield | .400; 5 RBI |
| Deena Pederson(23) | 2nd Base | .091; RBI |
| Brooklyn Lee (17) | Catcher | .167; RBI |
| Gabby Williams (99) | Pitcher/DP | .400; 2 RBI |
| Alexa DeMarse (3) | 1st Base | .333 |
| Hailey Mulligan (21) | Shortstop | .154; RBI |
| Zoe Richards (8) | 3rd Base | .182; RBI |
| Mariah Melendez (13) | Right Field | .000 |
| Marissa Hassis (1) | Utility | .000 |
And in the circle, we can expect to see one of the following:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Gabby Williams (99) | LHP | 1-2; 4.38 ERA; 12.1 IP; 8 K, 2 BB; OppBA: .286 |
| India Caldwell (16) | RHP | 0-1; 3.21 ERA; 14 IP; 11 K, 3 BB; OppBA: .281 |
| Shelby Thompson (24) | LHP | 0-1; e.86 ERA; 4.2 IP; K, 3 BB; OppBA: .320 |
On Friday, there is a noticeable step-up in competition as the Tigers face a PAC-12 foe, the Utah Utes at 9:30PM. Here is a brief look at what to expect from the Utes.
Utah Utes (4-1)
Wins against: Army, Notre Dame, NC Central, Iowa
Loss against: Missouri
Coach Amy Hogue – 16th Season at Utah
Names and stats to know going into Friday night’s game:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Aliya Belarde (23) | 2nd Base | .286; RBI |
| Julia Jimenez (42) | 3rd Base | .200; 5 RBI |
| Karlie Davison (14) | Shortstop | .600; 3 RBI |
| Kaylah Nelsen (55) | DP | .400; 2 RBI |
| Leilani Melendez (2) | Right Field | .333; 4 RBI |
| Abby Dayton (16) | Centerfield | .357; RBI |
| Kendall Lundberg (32) | Catcher | .300; 2 RBI |
| Shonty Passi (11) | 1st Base | .000 |
| Haley Denning (3) | Left Field | .615; 9-9 SB |
And in the circle, we can expect to see one of the following:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Sarah Ladd (21) | LHP | 2-0; 0.64 ERA; 14 IP; 9 K, 2 BB; OppBA: .232 |
| Mariah Lopez (8) | LHP | 1-1; 3.60 ERA; 10 IP; 6 K, 3 BB; OppBA: .357 |
After Friday night, Clemson will enter Saturday with a double-header against two SEC teams, the first being a familiar opponent as the Auburn Tigers came into McWhorter Stadium a season ago for the Clemson Regional. Clemson was able to come out of the regional with a victory, but the battles were great between the two sides. Saturday at 4PM should add another chapter into the budding rivalry from our friends from Alabama.
Auburn Tigers (1-1-1)
Win against: Belmont
Loss against: Virginia Tech
Tie against: Virginia Tech
Coach Mickey Dean – 7th Season at Auburn
Names and stats to know going into Saturday’s first of two games:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Nelia Peralta (13) | Shortstop | .167 |
| KK McCrary (16) | Left Field | .222; 2 HR; 3 RBI |
| Millie Roberts (31) | 3rd Base | .000 |
| Amelia Lech (34) | 1st Base | .250; 2 HR; 3 RBI |
| Icess Tresvik (3) | Right Field | .400 |
| Aubrie Lisenby (11) | DP/Catcher | .167; RBI |
| Anna Wohlers (22) | Catcher/3rd Base | .286; RBI |
| Makayla Packer (10) | Centerfield | .200 |
| Annabelle Widra (66) | 2nd Base | .333 |
| Chalea Clemmons | Utility | .429 |
Clemson will likely face a familiar arm on Saturday in Maddie Penta, see her and one other probable in the circle for the Auburn Tigers:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Maddie Penta (9) | RHP | 0-1; 1.80 ERA; 11.2 IP; 16 K, 4 BB; OppBA: .205 |
| Annabelle Widra (66) | RHP | 1-0; 4.20 ERA; 3.1 IP; 6 K; OppBA: .313 |
The Tigers close out the weekend with the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday night at 9:30PM.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-0)
Wins against: UAB (x2); IUPUI (x2)
Coach Samantha Ricketts – 5th Season at Mississippi State
Names and stats going into Saturday night’s finale:
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Sierra Sacco (29) | Centerfield | .444; RBI |
| Nadia Barbary (10) | 3rd Base | .333; 4 RBI |
| Jessie Blaine (22) | Catcher | .556; HR; 4 RBI |
| Aquana Brownlee (20) | 1st Base | .714; 5 RBI |
| Paige Cook (6) | DP | 1.000; HR; 5 RBI |
| Ella Wesolowski (74) | Right Field | .200; HR; 5 RBI |
| Kylee Edwards (67) | Shortstop | .500; HR; 2 RBI |
| Salen Hawkins (47) | 2nd Base | .222; RBI |
| Brylie St. Clair (12) | Left Field | .500 |
Early in the season, it is anyone’s guess as to who will be in the circle for the Bulldogs as their statistics look nearly identical across four pitchers.
| NAME (#) | Position | ‘24 Stats |
| Lexi Sosa (7) | RHP | 1-0; 0.00 ERA; 5 IP; 4 K; OppBA: .211 |
| Matalasi Faapito (34) | RHP | 1-0; 0.00 ERA; 5 IP; 9 K; OppBA: .000 |
| Josey Marron (55) | RHP | 1-0; 0.00 ERA; 5 IP; 9 K; OppBA: .000 |
| Aspen Wesley (28) | RHP | 1-0; 0.00 ERA; 4 IP 5 K; OppBA: .071 |
This weekend should be another huge test for the highly-ranked Clemson Tigers. There is still a lot of season left to go, and as can be seen with all of the numbers, there is still a lot of movement to be had.
Clemson started strong last weekend before struggling with a very good Missouri team. This weekend’s slate of games will once again challenge our ladies. But it sure should be a lot of fun to watch…as long as the games are.
