Clemson Softball stayed firmly in control of its in-state softball showdown, overpowering No. 23 South Carolina with an 8-0 victory in six innings Wednesday in Columbia.
Sierra Maness set the tone early and never let it slip. The Clemson right-hander worked efficiently through the Gamecocks’ lineup, allowing just four hits and a walk while recording four strikeouts in a complete-game shutout. South Carolina rarely threatened, with only two baserunners reaching over the first five innings as Clemson’s defense — particularly at third base — erased chances before they could develop.
While Maness controlled things defensively, the Tigers’ offense built the lead piece by piece. Clemson struck first with a four-run opening inning, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and consistent contact. Jamison Brockenbrough reached and advanced on a misplay to spark the rally, Kiley Channell brought in the first run, and RBI singles from Macey Cintron and Julia Knowler followed. A bases-loaded walk added another to quickly create separation.
The Tigers didn’t rely on extra-base power to keep things going. Instead, they strung together hit after hit — all singles through the first five innings — wearing down South Carolina’s pitching staff. Cintron added a second RBI knock in the next inning, and Marian Collins later chipped in with a run-scoring single to stretch the margin.
By the middle innings, Clemson had cycled through its entire lineup with every batter reaching base. A string of three consecutive singles in the fifth, capped by Sarah Breaux’s RBI, pushed the advantage to seven runs and left the Gamecocks searching for answers with multiple pitchers already used.
Knowler eventually delivered the finishing blow in the sixth, driving a double into the gap to plate another run and trigger the run-rule ending. She finished with three hits, matching Corri Hicks for the team lead, while Brockenbrough and Mac Pavese each crossed the plate twice as Clemson improved to 8-2 in the all-time series.
Up next, the Tigers return home for a marquee ACC matchup, hosting No. 8 Florida State in a three-game set beginning Friday — a rematch of last season’s conference title clash.
