ATHENS, Ga. — Graduate pitcher Abby Dunning delivered another complete-game performance Saturday night, striking out six as Clemson earned a 4-1 win over UNC Greensboro. The victory sent the Tigers to the NCAA Regional Championship for the fifth time in program history and improved their season record to 34-21.
Clemson wasted little time carrying over its momentum from the earlier win against the College of Charleston. Batting as the visiting team in the rematch with the Spartans, senior Jamison Brockenbrough opened the game with a double to left-center, and freshman Mac Pavese followed with an RBI double down the left-field line to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Tigers added another run in the third after Brockenbrough ripped her second double of the night to start the frame. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kiley Channell before Pavese worked a walk. Pavese later stole second, and an errant throw by UNCG’s shortstop allowed Brockenbrough to cross the plate and stretch Clemson’s lead to 2-0.
Dunning, making her third appearance of the Athens Regional, kept the Spartans scoreless through four innings. UNCG finally broke through in the fifth with a pair of baserunners and a shallow single to center that trimmed the deficit to 2-1. Even so, Dunning limited the damage by recording two strikeouts in the inning.
The Spartans threatened again in the sixth after advancing a runner to third with two outs, but Dunning escaped the jam by forcing a flyout to left field to preserve Clemson’s slim advantage.
Clemson added insurance runs in the seventh. Sophomore Corri Hicks reached on an error, and pinch runner Sarah Rocheleau later scored after Taylor Pipkins doubled into the gap in right-center. Brockenbrough brought home another run with a groundout before Channell capped the scoring with an RBI single up the middle.
Dunning closed out the game in dominant fashion, retiring two of the first three batters in the seventh before sealing the win with a final pop up. The complete-game effort marked her ninth victory of the season and advanced Clemson to Sunday’s regional final against host Georgia Bulldogs softball.
