CLEMSON, S.C. - The Clemson Tigers responded with five runs in the second, four in the third and three in the sixth to run-rule the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, 12-4, on Tuesday night. As a team, the Tigers notched seven extra-base hits, including five doubles which tied for the third-most doubles in a single game in program history. With the win, Clemson improved to 24-13, while Gardner-Webb dropped to 23-13.
Sophomore Corri Hicks finished with a team-high five RBIs after going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run and three runs scored. Marian Collins added three hits with both a double and triple and three runs scored. Kiley Channell rounded out the Tigers with two hits, while Ava Wilson walked off the game with a two-RBI pinch-hit single.
Freshman Keira Crosby improved to 2-0 after throwing 2.2 innings in relief. Graduate Abby Dunning started the Tigers in the circle and reentered to pitch a combined 3.1 innings with three strikeouts to earn a save.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs struck early, scoring three in the top of the first and adding one more in the second.
Julia Knowler started the Tigers off at bat in the second and drew a walk. Collins was up next, doubling towards right field. With two runners on base, Hicks hammered a ball out of the stadium at 78 miles per hour, to cut Gardner-Webb’s lead down to 4-3. The play marked her team-high seventh home run of the season.
As the inning continued, Pipkins found second base after doubling to right center. Channell hit a center field single that sent Pipkins home to even things at 4-all. In the ensuing play, Mac Pavese picked up an RBI off of a double that plated Channell and gave the Tigers their first lead of the game. Clemson made its way through the entire lineup in the second and entered the third with a 5-4 edge.
After holding Gardner-Webb scoreless in the top of the third, Collins notched her first triple of the season. A double from Hicks brought Collins home, making the score 6-4. Kylee Johnson reached first off of a fielding error on the ensuing play, and Pipkins then drew a walk to load the bases with Hicks at third and Johnson at second.
One pitch later, Channell reached on a throwing error, and advanced to second to plate both Hicks and Johnson. Pavese and Cintron both walked, with the latter returning Pipkins home and making the score 9-4 heading into the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Knowler reached on a fielder’s choice, and Collins singled to left field to put two on. Hicks hit her second double of the night to score Knowler for her fifth RBI. With two on, Wilson entered as a pinch hitter, scoring two RBIs with Collins and Hicks coming home to finalize the ninth run-rule victory of the year for the Tigers, 12-4.
Up Next
The Tigers hit the road for a three-game series at Virginia Tech. Weekend action is slated to begin on Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.