BLACKSBURG, Va. - Freshman Sarah Breaux and sophomores Taylor Pipkins and Corri Hicks each hit home runs in the series finale, but the Clemson Tigers dropped the rubber match to No. 11/12 Virginia Tech, 10-5, on Saturday evening at the Tech Softball Park. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 25-15 (7-8 ACC), while the Hokies improved to 33-5 (9-3 ACC).
Both Breaux and Pipkins’ home runs were the second homers for each of them during the weekend. Breaux also notched a double for two hits on the night, while Hicks added her team-high eighth of the season with her solo shot. Cintron rounded out the offensive players with an RBI, while Jamison Brockenbrough and Mac Pavese added one hit each.
The Hokies got off to a strong start as a double, hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first. A single back up the middle plated two, and a sac fly brought a third runner home for an early advantage for Virginia Tech.
The Tigers got two of the runs back in the top of the second after junior Julia Knowler reached on an error and was brought home on a Breaux homer out of left field. The Hokies got both runs back in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer of their own to make it 5-2 after two.
Virginia Tech added another run in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run. Clemson answered in the top of the fifth as Pipkins added her second home run of the weekend with a solo shot to open the inning. The inning continued as Brockenbrough singled, and Kiley Channell drew a four-pitch walk. Both advanced on a groundout that allowed Cintron to pick up an RBI in her plate appearance.
The Hokies led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run, which had Clemson turning to graduate Abby Dunning in relief. Dunning threw 22 pitches before Clemson made the change to Cintron in the circle. Virginia Tech loaded the bases and scored one before Cintron ended the inning with a strikeout.
Hicks added Clemson’s third home run of the night with a solo shot in the top of the sixth inning. The sophomore hit the ball off the left-field foul pole and cut VT’s lead to five after six. Virginia Tech’s 10-5 lead held through the remainder of the game.
Junior Sierra Maness (15-6) pitched four innings with one strikeout before being replaced. Dunning faced four batters in her 20th appearance of the year. Cintron made her fourth appearance in the circle and pitched 1.2 innings with one strikeout.
Up Next
The Tigers continue their road stretch with a three-game series at Pittsburgh. Action is slated to begin on Friday, April 10 at 6 p.m. on ACC Network.