Tigers Down BC to Earn 10th Straight Win
CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson Softball team (30-4, 20-4 ACC) tallied its 10th straight win after defeating Boston College, 10-2, in game No. 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader at McWhorter Stadium. The Tigers offense was sharp from the start, scoring four runs in the first inning en route to securing their 30th win overall and 20th league victory this season.
Clemson starting pitcher Millie Thompson (6-1) earned the win after pitching a complete-game, the third of her freshman campaign.
The Tigers’ offense came out swinging in the bottom of the first with a single from lead-off batter McKenzie Clark. After Ansley Gilstrap reached on a fielder’s choice and Clark advanced to second on a throwing error by the BC shortstop, lefty Valerie Cagle brought home Clark on a hard-hit RBI-single to the pitcher. Two batters later, designated player Abi Stuart struck an RBI-single up the middle to score Gilstrap and extend the Tigers lead to 2-0. The Tigers’ scoring continued as Alia Logoleo, who started Saturday’s first game at third base, roped a two-RBI single down the left-field line to knock home Cagle and Stuart. With its four runs scored in inning No. 1, Clemson improved to 18-0 on the season when leading after the first.
The Eagles scored their first of two runs in their half of the fourth on their 11th homer of the season.
With the bases loaded, the Clemson offense came up big in the fourth inning with a three-RBI double ripped deep to the left-centerfield wall from Marisaa Guimbarda, the team’s leader in RBIs. The three-RBI shot, scoring Cammy Pereira, Gilstrap, and Cagle, brought Guimbarda’s RBI total to 32 on the season.
In the top of the sixth, Boston College stroked a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in one run from third base and narrow the score, 7-2.
Extending the Tigers’ lead to 9-2, Guimbarda and Casey Bigham crossed home plate on a single smacked into left field by pinch hitter Morgan Johnson. The two-RBI single recorded Johnson’s 13th and 14th RBI of the season. Clark then brought home Johnson on a sacrifice fly to end the game in walk-off fashion.
Boston College starting pitcher Susannah Anderson (5-13) suffered her second loss of the series, having lost Friday’s night matchup.
Up next, the Tigers and Boston College (8-23, 4-15 ACC) return to McWhorter Stadium for game No. 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:40 p.m. and is slated to stream on RSN, which include: FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Florida, YES, NESN Plus, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Marquee, MASN2 and FOX Sports Southwest Plus
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