CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 4/4 Clemson Tigers plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning that would prove to be the only runs necessary to complete the sweep of Virginia on Sunday afternoon. Following the win, Clemson improves to 29-1 (6-0 ACC), while the Cavaliers drop to 18-10 (1-5 ACC). This also extends the Tigers’ win streak at McWhorter Stadium to 27 games.
The Tigers were off and running in the first inning plating two runs after Maddie Moore, Valerie Cagle and Caroline Jacobsen loaded the bases. Alia Logoleo came up with a clutch single to left field that got by the left fielder to plate both Moore and Cagle to give Clemson the 2-0 advantage. On the defensive side, Moore continued to show her tiger-like reflexes at second base, turning a solo double play in the second, catching a line drive and making it to second to tag the bag before the runner could make it back.
Clemson made a push to score again in the fourth inning as Logoleo and Arielle Oda got on with a single and a walk, respectively, but neither would advance past second to ultimately be left stranded. The Tiger defense stayed hot as center fielder McKenzie Clark tracked one into deep right center to make the catch for the first out of the fifth. That same inning concluded as Davenport turned the hot corner ice cold with a line-drive grab.
In the top of the sixth, the Tigers continued the defensive prowess as Cagle opened action in the circle with her 100th strikeout of 2023. It marked the 630th of her career. The inning wrapped with Clemson turning its second double play with a clean 4-6-3 by Moore, Logoleo and Madison May.
Clemson’s two runs in the bottom of the first inning would be the only runs either side would plate on the game. Cagle finished with 5 strikeouts and no walks in her 14th-complete game performance in the circle to improve to 13-1 on the year.
Up Next
The Tigers hit the road next week traveling to Atlanta, Georgia for a three-game series against Georgia Tech. Action is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Brooke Russell, Clemson Athletics
