Clemson Softball looked to avoid back-to-back series losses on Sunday when they took the field against Boston College. Brooke McCubbin got the start in the series’ finale and deciding game. Hallie Pappion got the start for Boston College. McCubbin pitched well getting the best of Pappion on the day. McCubbin pitched three innings and gave up no runs for her seventh victory of the season. Pappion would be charged with five runs in three innings.
Maddie Moore got on in the first inning with a hit then stole second to put herself into scoring position. Valerie Cagle walked with two outs bringing up Logoleo who was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Garcia would hit the ball hard, but a line out to left ended the inning. Flashbacks of last night’s game where Clemson had several opportunities, but didn’t score until the fifth must have been flashing through Head Coach John Rittman’s mind.
In the second Arielle Oda reached on an infield hit. Then Alex Brown ripped a triple down the right field line to give Clemson a 1-0 lead early. That would’ve been enough for the win, but there was plenty more scoring to come for the Tigers.
The third inning started well for Clemson Softball at the plate. First McKensie Clark laid down a bunt single to lead off the inning. Then Valerie Cagle would follow by getting hit by a pitch putting Clemson runners on 1st and 2nd. Logoleo laced a single to the outfield to make it 2-0 Clemson with no out in the 3rd, but Clemson could not capitalize further as Garcia popped out, Vierra struck out, and Grace Hiller flew out to end the inning.
Brooke McCubbin was pulled in the fourth after allowing the first two batters to reach. Her replacement Regan Spencer came into the game with a .072 ERA. She pitched like a player with a 0 ERA stopping the Boston College rally and stranding the two runners on base.
Ariella Oda bunted her way on in the fourth to lead off the inning then Alex Brown found a hole between three defenders on a ball that landed in short right-center. Maddie Moore would follow with a single up the middle making it 3-0 and chasing Hallie Pappion from the game. Boston College brought in Jackson from the bullpen, she inherited 2 runners with no outs. After a dropped fly advanced the runner to third, but did result in a put out at second. Cagle came up and slapped a single to right to make it 4-0. Logoleo laid down a sac bunt to make it 5-0. A throwing error put the runners at 2nd and 3rd before Garcia singled making it a 7-0 game. Clemson’s five-run fourth put them one run from their second-run rule victory of the series.
Boston College reached with 1 out in the fifth then a wild pitch advanced the runner to second before a walk put two on base. Then Spencer struck out Jackson bringing Slike to the plate. Slike popped out to end the threat giving Clemson Softball a chance for another rule-run victory with a run in their half of the inning.
Oda starts off the fifth with a lead-off single but is thrown out stealing after a fly out by Alex Brown. Maddie Moore is called out stealing second, but replay overturns the call. Moore was injured and removed from the game on the play. She looked happy in the dugout after coming out from the training room saying she had a dislocated finger.
When the game restarted McKensie Clark drew a walk. Then Valerie Cagle came to the plate and knocked the ball over the left field fence giving Clemson Softball a 10-0 run-rule victory. This was their second run-rule victory of the series. Clemson had 14 hits in five innings today. Moore and Oda led the way with three hits each. Valerie Cagle drove in 4 including the winning runs on her 3-run home run. Clemson Softball got a much-needed series win. Next up for Clemson Softball, Furman at 6 pm Tuesday.
