The Clemson Softball Tigers would end their final home series with a loss to ACC leaders Duke (37-4, 16-2 ACC) by a score of 6-1. Despite a great night by Regan Spencer, the Blue Devils would hang a crooked number in the seventh inning to secure another conference win.
A solid night by Spencer in the circle was matched by an equally impressive game by Duke pitcher Cassidy Curd. Clemson will remember Curd from her no-hitter against the Tigers in the 2023 ACC tournament.
Both would deal early and often, keeping the opposing dangerous lineups at bay. The game would be 0-0, scoreless through four innings. A four pitch walk to first baseman Gisele Tapia would start off Duke in the top half of the fifth. A sacrifice bunt from Goddard would move the runner to second, but Clark would catch a pop out in center to secure out number two and keep the runner in place. Duke Coach Marissa Young would insert pinch-hitter Amiah Burgess, who would get a hard-hit ball into left field – but a good throw by Oda would keep the runner at third from scoring. With two outs and runners at the corners for Duke, Torres would hit a ball passed Logoleo at third to score the first runner, followed up quickly by a Davidson hit past Brown at second to make the score 2-0 Blue Devils on just three hits. Another fly out to Clark would end the visitor’s half, but not without some damage done.
Curd (4.0 IP, 3 H, 6 K) would sit during the bottom of the fifth, as Duke would hand the ball to Jala Wright to look for the save. Both catcher Aby Viera and right fielder Kylee Johnson would hit out to Wright for her first two outs. Left fielder Arielle Oda would ground out to second baseman Aminah Vega to end the fifth, and the momentum would stay with the Blue Devils. To start the top of the sixth, Spencer would get Gold to pop out in foul territory to first baseman Julia Knowler for the first out. She would follow that up by hitting designated player Francesca Frelick with a pitch, which would end her night in the circle (5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 K). In would enter Millie Thompson, who had just pitched a complete game one night before. She would get a deep fly out to center, assisted by another athletic run and catch by center fielder McKenzie Clark, for out number two in the inning. Thompson would pull the string with her patented changeup to catch right fielder Sarah Goddard swinging for out three, and get the Tigers back in the dugout.
The top of the order for Clemson would look to get things going in the bottom of the sixth, and shortstop Maddie Moore would deliver with a single back up the middle into center field. Tapia would make a great catch on a line drive by second baseman Alex Brown, but the hit would move Moore over to second with just one out. Clark would then deliver with a hit into left field of her own. After a great throw by left fielder Claire Davidson forced a challenge by Duke on the play at the plate, Moore’s crafty slide would not be overturned and would secure the run for the Tigers. Knowler would advance Clark to third on a sacrifice ground out, giving third baseman Alia Logoleo a chance for a timely hit in the batter’s box. Alia could not deliver, however, as she’d hit a slow roller back to Wright who would flip it to first to end the Clemson side of the sixth. Duke would lead 2-1.
To the seventh, the final game between Duke and Clemson would go. Thompson would force two ground balls to shortstop by Jada Baker and center fielder D’Auna Jennings, but fast running by the Blue Devils would keep them safe from being thrown out. After a passed ball advanced the runners to second and third, a bunt would give Duke another run scored at home. Davidson would then deliver with a deep shot in the gap in left field, scoring two more runs to make the score 5-1 Blue Devils. Thompson would then give the ball to Brooke McCubbin to close out the game. With no outs and a runner on second, Vega would get a fly out to Clark in center for out number one. Ana Gold would step in and get an RBI on a single that drove in Davidson, and Frelick would get another single to keep the top of the seventh going. Tapia would pop out to Logoleo in foul territory for the second out, and Moore would get the force out at second to end another big Blue Devil scoring outburst.
Garcia would strike out for out number one in the bottom of the seventh, followed by Viera doing the same for out number two. Pinch-hitter Grace Hiller would strike out as well, ending the game and securing the sweep for Duke.
Note: Valerie Cagle was held out of the entire weekend series due to concussion protocol. With thoughts and prayers sent for her health as a whole, Clemson will need her healthy and on the field in hopes for a strong finish to this season.
Clemson (28-14, 11-7 ACC) will play their home finale on Tuesday, hosting the Winthrop Eagles at 6pm first pitch. The Tigers will then hit the road for two conference series away, starting at Notre Dame and ending at Louisville.
