CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 24 Clemson jumped out to a six-run lead but could not hold off a late rally from Louisville, falling 7-6 in the series finale Sunday afternoon at McWhorter Stadium. The Tigers move to 19-9 overall and 4-2 in ACC play, while the Cardinals improve to 20-7 and 3-3 in conference action.
Clemson finished the game with 10 hits and committed no errors but left eight runners on base. Louisville recorded nine hits and used a late push at the plate to erase Clemson’s early advantage.
Junior Kiley Channell paced the Tigers offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior Jamison Brockenbrough added two hits in four at bats, scored twice and stole a base. Freshman Mac Pavese and sophomore Marian Collins each drove in two runs, while Kylee Johnson contributed an RBI and made a key defensive play in the outfield.
Clemson got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Brockenbrough reached with a single and moved into scoring position after stealing second. Channell then drove a double into the right center gap to bring her home and give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers extended their lead with a big fifth inning. Clemson loaded the bases with no outs on a hit by pitch and two singles before Pavese delivered a two RBI single to start the scoring in the frame. Collins followed with a two RBI double, the 23rd double of her career, to push the lead to 5-0. Later in the inning, Johnson added an RBI single to right field to score Collins and make it 6-0.
Righthander Sierra Maness made her 11th start of the season and worked 5.2 innings in the circle. She allowed five runs on six hits and struck out seven while helping Clemson escape an early threat in the second inning. Louisville put runners on second and third with no outs, but Maness responded with back to back strikeouts before fielding a sharp liner up the middle and throwing to first to end the inning.
Clemson’s defense added another highlight in the third inning when Johnson made a diving catch in the outfield to close out the frame.
Louisville began its comeback in the sixth inning, scoring five runs to cut the Tigers’ lead to one. The Cardinals then pushed across two more runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-6 lead that held through the final inning.
Graduate Abby Dunning pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief and was charged with the loss, dropping to 6-4 on the season.
Up Next
Clemson hits the road for a midweek matchup at Western Carolina on Wednesday, March 18. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be available on ESPN+.
