Photos by Patrick Boling, Clemson Athletics
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The No. 23 Clemson Softball team (17-2, 9-2 ACC) scored four runs in the top of the 11th inning against Louisville (9-8, 3-3 ACC) at Ulmer Stadium on Friday night to earn its 14th consecutive victory. The Tigers were led by righty ace Valerie Cagle (11-1), the ACC’s wins leader, who threw a complete game after pitching a career-high 176 pitches in all 11 innings. Cagle also set a career best with 14 strikeouts on the evening. With Friday’s win, Cagle is now tied for first in the nation with five shutouts on the season.
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MCKENZIE CLARK, HAVE A DAY‼️She breaks a scoreless tie in the top of the 11th to give us a 1-0 lead!!📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/RJiC9aIpxX— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
MCKENZIE CLARK, HAVE A DAY‼️
She breaks a scoreless tie in the top of the 11th to give us a 1-0 lead!!
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/RJiC9aIpxX
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 11th after McKenzie Clark registered her first hit of the night on an RBI triple that trickled past the Louisville centerfielder. Then, Cagle (2-for-4) collected her second hit of the night on an RBI single up the middle to score Clark. After going 0-for-4 in her first four at bats, Marissa Guimbarda blasted her seventh home run of the season on a deep two-RBI shot over the center field wall.
GUIMBARDA. GONE.That's her seventh bomb of the season and she now has 23 RBIs.We lead 4-0 entering the bottom of the 11th.📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/JYnL2DdaFT— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
GUIMBARDA. GONE.
That's her seventh bomb of the season and she now has 23 RBIs.
We lead 4-0 entering the bottom of the 11th.
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/JYnL2DdaFT
In the bottom of the 11th, Cagle struck out two Cardinal batters before a line out to Clemson shortstop Ansley Gilstrap ended the game.
The Tigers and Louisville return to action on Saturday for a doubleheader. First pitch for Saturday’s first contest is scheduled for noon. Both games are scheduled to stream on ACCNX.
For complete coverage of the Tiger softball team, follow @ClemsonSoftball on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.
McKENZIE CLARK, AGAIN 🙌The true freshman makes another miraculous play in CF to keep this thing going!📺 ACCNX#D1Top10 #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/dmSoNhs6l5— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
McKENZIE CLARK, AGAIN 🙌
The true freshman makes another miraculous play in CF to keep this thing going!
📺 ACCNX#D1Top10 #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/dmSoNhs6l5
THE THROW 😱 THE TAG 😱😱Clutch.📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/FJBSp6fY3k— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
THE THROW 😱 THE TAG 😱😱
Clutch.
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/FJBSp6fY3k
🙌 GILSTRAP GETS THE OUT TO KEEP THE POTENTIAL GAME-WINNING RUN FROM SCORING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH‼️To extra innings we go…📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/buWBxiWiNE— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
🙌 GILSTRAP GETS THE OUT TO KEEP THE POTENTIAL GAME-WINNING RUN FROM SCORING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH‼️
To extra innings we go…
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/buWBxiWiNE
JOJO 💪💪💪📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/qo62zx70bG— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
JOJO 💪💪💪
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/qo62zx70bG
Casey Bigham just doing Casey Bigham things (again) 😤📺 ACCNX#D1Top10 pic.twitter.com/SyY7aIQL9L— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) March 20, 2021
Casey Bigham just doing Casey Bigham things (again) 😤
📺 ACCNX#D1Top10 pic.twitter.com/SyY7aIQL9L
Photos by Jared Anderson, Louisville Athletics
