CLEMSON, S.C. – Behind a seven-strikeout performance from senior Millie Thompson, and hits from McKenzie Clark, Grace Hiller and Maddie Moore, the No. 12/14 Clemson Tigers defeated North Carolina, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon.
Thompson threw her first complete game of the 2024 season to improve to 4-0 on the year. She faced 27 batters without giving up a walk and threw 67 strikes.
Clark was the lone Tiger to have an at-bat leave the park during the seven-inning contest. Much like Alex Brown yesterday, Clark drove the second pitch of her opening plate appearance 263 feet out of center field to open scoring with two outs. North Carolina answered in the top of the second with a single run after getting the leadoff runner on.
Hiller picked up the go-ahead RBI in the bottom of the second after recording her first double and RBI of the 2024 slate. She drove the 10th-pitch thrown over the head of North Carolina’s right fielder to plate Maddie Moore from third, who had reached earlier that inning off a single through the right side, stole her team-high ninth base of the season and advanced to third during Lindsey Garcia’s at bat.
The Tar Heels attempted to push back, specifically in the fourth inning after getting two on with two outs. Thompson came up with her fifth strikeout of the day with an off-speed that forced North Carolina to leave the runners stranded and preserve the lead.
Moore added two insurance runs for the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth with a triple, her second of the season, off the right-field wall to plate Clark and Brown, who reached on a single and error, respectively, to make it 4-1 after six. North Carolina made one final push in the top of the seventh getting a runner to second, but Thompson shut things down by fielding a grounder and making the throw to first to secure the 4-1 victory.
Up Next
Clemson will go for the sweep against North Carolina tomorrow at McWhorter Stadium. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on ACC Network. Tickets are still available for the series finale and can be purchased both online and at the gate on the day of the game.
