The Clemson Tigers would take advantage of Orange mistakes early, and add a couple home runs to boot, during this bright and early Sunday morning matchup, taking game one of Sunday’s double-header and the series against the Syracuse Orange.
To start the top of the 1st, Syracuse pitcher Britney Lewinski would struggle. Starting with 2 HBP (Maddie Moore, Mackenzie Clark) and a walk (Alex Brown), she would then give a 4-pitch walk to Valerie Cagle to put the first runner across for the Tigers.
The Orange would change pitchers after just four batters, sending right-hander Jessie DiPasquale in for relief. After a force-out at home from a slow-roller to the pitcher, Logoleo would draw another walk to push another runner across. On the very next at-bat, Lindsey Garcia would deliver the first hit of the game for Clemson, hitting a line drive into right field to bring home 2 more runners. The score would be 4-0 Tigers to end the top of the inning – A very good start for the Tigers.
Senior left-hander Millie Thompson would take the mound for the first game of this double-header. The top of the Syracuse lineup would attack her early, getting 2 quick singles back to back. However, after a challenge got one of the runners out for leaving the base too early, Thompson would strike out the next 2 batters to close out the inning with no damage done.
The Tigers would continue to get good at-bats from its lineup. The leadoff hitter of the 2nd, Jojo Hyatt, would draw a 3-2 walk, followed by a 4-pitch walk to Arielle Oda. The lineup would flip over with 2 on base and no outs for the Tigers. After DiPasquale struck out Moore, Brown would get a fielder’s choice at second off of a ground ball to get runners on the corners. Mackenzie Clark would then hit a ball into shallow center to drive in the runner from 3rd, making it 5-0 Clemson before the side would be retired.
After a flyout to Cagle (where she awkwardly ran into the right-field bullpen fence) and a strikout by Thompson, Syracuse would get their first runner across in the bottom of the 2nd. A single over the head of Logoleo would drive in a Cuse runner from second, making it 5-1 Clemson. Oda would chase down a fly ball in left field to limit the damage and end the inning.
Scoring would continue for the Tigers in the 3rd. After a leadoff walk to Logoleo, Lindsey Garcia would smash a ball over the right center wall for her 2nd home run of the year and her 3rd and 4th RBIs of the day. Thompson would pick up two more strikeouts and no runs earned in the bottom of the third.
After the Orange finally post a zero in the scoring column against Clemson in the top of the 4th, the Tigers would turn a beautiful 4-6-3 double play followed by a fly-out to end the inning.
Thompson would continue her bend-don’t-break day in the circle, giving up a couple more hits before ending the inning on a strikeout, earning her sixth of the day in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and two in scoring position in the top of the sixth, Mackenzie Clark would deliver. Clark would blast a monster home run over the left field wall to clear the bases and make the score 10-1 Tigers.
Millie Thompson (6 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 6 SO) would pitch a complete game to close out the Orange in 6 innings and secure the series win for the Tigers.
Clemson (26-11, 10-4 ACC) will look to sweep Syracuse (16-16, 4-10 ACC) in the second game of their double header and final game of the series, with first pitch scheduled around a half hour after the conclusion of game one.
