Clemson Downs Elon, 10-0
CLEMSON, S.C. – With a 3-0 lead entering the fifth, the Clemson Softball team scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning, activating the NCAA’s seven-run rule to hand the Tigers their fifth consecutive victory by a final score of 10-0. Marissa Guimbarda hit her fourth home run of the season on a three-run shot to left field to end the game in walkoff fashion for the Tigers. With the win, Clemson improved to 8-2 on the season, while Elon fell to 2-2 overall.
Clemson freshman righty Regan Spencer earned the win in the circle for the Tigers and improved to 3-0 on the season in the process. Spencer surrendered just one hit and retired the last 13 batters that she faced. For Elon, Alex Nemeth suffered her first loss of the season, falling 0-1 in her second start of 2021.
For the second game in a row, the Tigers struck first, but this time in the first inning. With runners on the corners, Marissa Guimbarda hit a ground ball to second base, allowing McKenzie Clark, who was on third, to score. In the second, the Tigers added to their lead as Abi Stuart launched her second home run of the day after hitting her first in Saturday’s opening contest. Stuart went first-pitch swinging and connected on a ball that flew over the center field wall. Clemson tacked on to its lead in the third as Kyah Keller reached on a fielding error by the Elon third baseman, but Valerie Cagle, who was on third, scored with ease in light of the error.
The Tigers capitalized on their offensive performance in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with an RBI single from Stuart to score pinch runner Carlee Shannon for the first run of the inning. Then, JoJo Hyatt ripped an RBI single that scored Pereira, who was on second. Another run for the Tigers was brought in by McKenzie Clark, who went 2-for-3 on the game, including her RBI single in the fifth to right centerfield. Clemson extended its lead to 7-0 after an Elon fielding error at first base. Guimbarda punctuated the win with a three-run homer to clinch the series in the Tigers favor.
Guimbarda finished Saturday’s nightcap 2-for-4 at the plate with a game high of 4 RBIs to push her RBI total to 14 on the season, the most by any Tiger this season. Stuart also chipped in two RBIs after going 2-for-3 in game No. 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Up next, the Tigers and Elon return for game No. 3 of the series on Sunday. First pitch from McWhorter Stadium is scheduled for noon. Sunday’s contest is set to stream on ACCNX.
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