May 09, 2024

GAMEDAY CENTRAL: Softball at ACC Championship (Semifinals)

No. 5 Clemson (34-16) vs. No. 1 Duke (45-6)

GAME SETUPS

Clemson: Roster | Schedule | Game Notes (PDF)

PREVIEW

Clemson entered the 2024 ACC Championship as the five seed – marked the fourth-consecutive season Clemson has entered the tournament as a top-five seed (2023 – 3, 2022 – 5, 2021 – 1)
The Tigers hold a .302 batting average. Clemson also has a .479 slugging percentage and .393 on-base percentage.
Clemson’s pitching staff maintains a 2.24 ERA through 340 innings of work and has 267 strikeouts.
The Tigers are 3-10 all time against the Blue Devils, including 0-3 in the three-game series at McWhorter Stadium earlier this season. Clemson last defeated Duke on March 19, 2022 with a 10-2 victory in five innings in Duke Softball Stadium. Clemson and Duke matched up last season in the ACC Championship semifinals where Duke took the game, 2-0.

QUICK HITS

Clemson has outscored opponents 304-147 this season
Clemson had 414 hits through 50 games, including posting 61 doubles, 52 home runs and 14 triples
The Tigers have 276 RBIs this season with Valerie Cagle (42), McKenzie Clark (39), Alia Logoleo (36) and Maddie Moore (34) leading the charge. A total of 15 batters have tallied at least one RBI this season, including 10 in double digits
11 Tigers combined for 104 multi-hit games led by Alex Brown (20), McKenzie Clark (17), Maddie Moore (15), Valerie Cagle (15) and Alia Logoleo (11).

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

The Tigers advance to the semifinals for the fourth-straight season Clemson has made at least a semifinal appearance – this is a semifinal game in each year eligible for the tournament (2020 season was canceled before ACC Championships due to COVID)
The 2024 season marked the second-time in program history Clemson has entered the ACC Championships as a five seed – the first being 2022
In 2022, Clemson entered as the five seed and went on to defeat Notre Dame (four seed – quarterfinals) and Virginia Tech (one seed – semifinals) before falling to Florida State, 8-6, in the championship game
The 2022 season marked the second-straight year Clemson had made the championship game after facing Duke in the 2021 championship
Clemson entered the tournament in 2023 as the three seed and defeated North Carolina, 2-1, before falling to Duke in the semifinals

CLARK CONNECTION

A starting centerfielder in 222 games for the Tigers, McKenzie Clark has maintained a .345 career batting average with 236 hits and 140 RBIS
Through the ACC Quarterfinals, she has scored 195 runs, which leads Clemson’s career records and has stolen 46 bases on her career
Clark claimed the Tigers’ stolen base record after surpassing Carlee Shannon (45 – 2022). She claimed the record outright with one stolen base against Duke on April 13, 2024
The Myakka City, Fla., native has tallied 40 doubles, 43 home runs and 12 triples to post a .627 slugging percentage and .440 on-base percentage
Defensively, she has 233 putouts and 16 assists on her career
Earlier this week, Clark was named to the Second Team All-ACC team – this was her third career honor and the second time she was a second team selection
Beyond the field, Clark sat down with the ClemsonPlus crew last fall to explain her life journey from adoption to becoming a Clemson Tiger – fans can read the entire journey by visiting ClemsonTigers.com/chosen-family