CLEMSON, S.C. - The No. 24/RV Tigers tallied their ninth shutout win of the year with a 4-0 victory against Louisville on Saturday afternoon in McWhorter Stadium to clinch the series against the Cardinals. Sophomore Corri Hicks tallied her team-high sixth home run of the season in the win as Clemson improved to 19-8 (4-1 ACC), while Louisville fell to 19-7 (2-3 ACC).
The Tigers tallied eight hits on the day with sophomore Marian Collins leading the way with a perfect 3-for-3 outing. Collins also clocked one RBI and scored one run, while Kylee Johnson and Jamison Brockenbrough scored the other two runs for the Tigers.
Clemson struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first. After Jamison Brockenbrough led off with a bunt single, she moved into scoring position off a single by Mac Pavese. It was Marian Collins that brought Brockenbrough home off a single into left center to make it 1-0 after one.
Clemson’s defense battled through the Cardinals getting runners on in each of the first three innings. Righthander Abby Dunning eliminated the threat with a strikeout to end the inning, while the second inning was highlighted by that Brockenbrough and Collins turned off a catch in center and threw to second to get the runner that wasn’t tagging. In the top of the third, Dunning once again stopped Louisville from capitalizing on a bases-loaded situation after picking up a full-count strikeout and forcing an infield pop up to end the inning.
Offensively, the Tigers scored in both the second and third innings. In the second, Kylee Johnson singled and advanced to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. Brockenbrough brought her home on a sac fly to make it 2-0. Sophomore Corri Hicks doubled Clemson’s lead in the third with a two-run homer that brought both her and Collins, who singled, home. It was Hicks’ sixth home run of the year and traveled 221 feet to give Clemson a 4-0 advantage, which held for the remainder of the game.
Saturday’s game marked Dunning’s seventh start of the season. She pitched her third complete game and struck out six batters en route to her sixth win.
Up Next
The Tigers will go for the series sweep against the Cardinals on Sunday, March 15 at noon on ACCNX. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of the game by clicking here or by stopping by the ticket table outside the main gate.