Valerie Cagle returned to the Clemson Softball program for her redshirt junior year in 2023 with different goals in mind: have fun and not overthink. After battling through pain and injury during the 2022 season, the Yorktown, Va., native made the decision to have shoulder surgery during the offseason. Since returning to the field, Cagle is back having fun and enjoying the elements of the game she loves at an extremely high level. Listen to Valerie tell her story in her own words by watching the full video of Her Story.
Pitching Highlights
- Retired all 15 batters she faced against Mercer to throw Clemson first perfect game in program history. Struck out eight batters and threw just 51 pitches with 40 strikes without ever reaching a three-ball count in the five-inning contest – became only the eighth pitcher in 2023 to throw a perfect game and the first in the ACC this season
- Holds a 0.62 ERA as of March 14 which sits third in the ACC and 12th in the NCAA
- Has 10 victories in the circle to sit second in the ACC and ninth the NCAA with two saves which is good enough for four in the ACC
- Struck out 82 batters while only giving up nine walks to limit opponents to a .169 average through 67.1 innings pitched
- Eclipsed 600 career strikeouts on the fourth of eight strikeouts thrown against Mercer (March 8)
- Named ACC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 21) after throwing 16.1 innings through four appearances to go 3-0 on the weekend with one save and 23 strikeouts
- Limited the then-No. 14 Northwestern Wildcats to only four hits in four innings of work and struck out another seven to earn the victory (Feb. 17)
- Struck out a season-high 11 batters at Florida International (Feb. 12)
Batting Highlights
- As of March 14, she leads the ACC and is fourth in the NCAA with a .525 batting average
- Leads the conference and is second in the NCAA with 42 hits in 2023, including 10 doubles (1st ACC/4th NCAA) and home runs (1st ACC/14th NCAA)
- Dominates the ACC holding the top spot for on-base percentage (.582, 12th in NCAA), slugging percentage (.975, 7th in NCAA) and total bases (78, 1st in NCAA)
- Tied a career-high with four hits against Ohio State (Feb. 19)
- Named ACC Player of the Week (Feb. 21) after she went the distance tallying a .529 average with nine hits, including four home runs and one double. She scored seven runs and had nine RBIs, stole one base and finished with a 1.294 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage through the five games. She capped the weekend combining to go 6-for-7 in two games against Ohio State with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored
- Clocked 197 hits on her career, including 48 home runs, 37 doubles and three triples. Also scored 127 runs and brought in 149
“PERFECTION IN FIVE!”
Valerie Cagle becomes the first ever player in Clemson Softball history to throw a perfect game 👏 🥎
🎥 @clemsonsoftball
pic.twitter.com/WjQqJqsQOV— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 9, 2023
T2 | Six batters faced today, four strikeouts this game, 𝟔𝟎𝟎 in her career 🤩
📺 ACCNX (https://t.co/EEuNhdH7sp) pic.twitter.com/vm4I24vNIl
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 8, 2023
B3 | 📍Dinger City (x2)
Cagle follows Moore's home run with one of her own. Clemson leads 2-0.
📊 https://t.co/zsfVijVMzV
📺 ACCNX (https://t.co/GjET38SX9b) pic.twitter.com/jfml2MNj5u— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 4, 2023
T3 | Caught ya lookin' 👀
Cagle picks up her fifth strikeout through three innings as the Tigers lead 2-0
📊 https://t.co/A8KPVlGKZB
📺 ACCNX (https://t.co/lVdg6iUVuA) pic.twitter.com/mvGAMMf07v— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 1, 2023
T1 | We seem to tweet this a lot, but Clemson leads early
Valerie Cagle wasted no time driving the first pitch she sees out of left field for a two-run homer 💣 pic.twitter.com/d5YPq1j5GE
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 23, 2023
She's a dual threat 💪🥎
🗞 | https://t.co/HGnWhJpNdM pic.twitter.com/5kGLZyzXMd
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 21, 2023
Players + Pitcher of the Week 🥎🔥
📰 https://t.co/AGwzvcpqM1 pic.twitter.com/8LFOZj1pZq
— ACC Softball (@ACCsoftball) February 21, 2023
3 batters, 13 pitches thrown, 2 home runs, 3 runs, no outs
📺ACCNX pic.twitter.com/68tqnLDXw0
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 19, 2023
B4 | Season 4, Episode 9: Home Run 45
Cagle clocks her 45th homer of her career with this dinger
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/exkCMS4OLt
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 19, 2023
T1 | ⏮ Rewind and take a look at Valerie Cagle's fourth homer of the year
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/4LbZQzxFUK
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 18, 2023
After opening weekend, Valerie Cagle and JoJo Hyatt were selected as two of the Top Performances by the NFCA
𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞: .625, 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1.250 SLG; 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 16 K, BB, SHO, 13 IP
𝐇𝐲𝐚𝐭𝐭: .778, 2 2B, R, 8 RBI, SB, .800 OBP pic.twitter.com/112AD09x3Z— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 15, 2023
T4 | Home run count for today: 3. Home run count for the weekend: 7
Cagle's leads off the inning with a solo blast 🐾 pic.twitter.com/B5P506tYc8
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 10, 2023