In a tightly contested battle, the Clemson Tigers fell short against the No. 14/16 Duke Blue Devils, surrendering a 5-3 defeat that marked the end of their impressive fourth-longest winning streak in program history. The Tigers, now 18-7 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), saw standout performances from several of their players, most notably Maddie Moore, who continued her extraordinary season with two hits and two RBIs, elevating her batting average to an impressive .492.
The game kicked off in favor of Clemson as they struck first in the opening inning. After Alex Brown drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Moore made her presence felt with a timely single into center field that brought Brown home, putting Clemson ahead early. However, the game took a turn in the third inning when Duke responded decisively. Loading the bases, the Blue Devils seized their opportunity and capitalized with a crucial double that scored two runs, effectively flipping the momentum in their favor.
Duke’s fourth inning when they added two more runs to their tally. A productive single followed by a sac bunt positioned a runner on second base, and a well-placed double brought her home. The Blue Devils continued their offensive surge with a subsequent single that increased their lead to 4-1, putting Clemson in a challenging position. Freshman Macey Cintron was brought in to relieve Boer McCubbin, who suffered her third loss of the season after striking out three batters but failed to stop the bleeding from Duke’s offense.
Clemson struggled to maintain momentum through the middle of the game, entering the sixth inning trailing by four runs. But just as Duke seemed to be pulling away, the Tigers found their spark. A leadoff home run from Moore reignited Clemson’s hope, her sixth of the season rocketing over the centerfield wall and cutting the deficit to three runs. The Blue Devils’ lead was further chipped away when sophomore Julia Knowler, on a critical 2-2 count, launched a powerful shot 244 feet out to right center field for her ninth homer, narrowing the gap to just two runs and setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Despite their efforts, Clemson faced a daunting task in the seventh inning. Duke’s offense showcased a disciplined approach, drawing two consecutive walks and placing runners on base with no outs. Reese Basinger emerged from the bullpen for Clemson, tasked with silencing Duke’s offense. Displaying composure, Basinger managed to retire all three batters she faced, striking out one in the process, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure.
However, just as they seemed poised to capitalize on their momentum from the previous inning, Clemson’s final at-bat proved to be anticlimactic. The Tigers went down in order, sealing their fate and marking their first loss since February 15.
Looking ahead, the upcoming rubber match on Sunday, March 9, at noon offers an opportunity for redemption for the Tigers as they seek to even the series against Duke. The game will be available to watch on ACCNX, giving fans a chance to witness whether Clemson can rebound after this tough defeat. Meanwhile, for the Blue Devils, this victory boosts their confidence as they gear up to face a resilient Tigers team that has proven capable of making quick comebacks. The stage is set for an enticing series finale, and both teams are sure to bring their best as they battle for supremacy in this critical ACC showdown.
