CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman Maddie Moore hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Alia Logoleo and give No. 18/17 Clemson the sweep over Georgia Tech, 3-2, on Senior Day. Today’s victory marked Clemson’s 100th in program history accomplishing the feat in only 130 games and three seasons since the inaugural season in 2020.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 37-14 overall and 14-10 in ACC play, while the Yellow Jackets drop to 36-15 overall and 11-13 in the ACC.
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The final game of the series began as a pitcher’s duel between Clemson’s Regan Spencer and Georgia Tech’s Chandler Dennis. Neither team tallied more than a single hit through the first two innings of play. The Tigers finally broke things open in the bottom of the third after Moore opened the inning with a walk and Cammy Pereira reached on an error by the Yellow Jacket’s shortstop. Moore advanced to third in the next at bat to put runners on the corners with one out.
Valerie Cagle stepped into the box and drove the first pitch of her at bat into left field for a standup double that scored Moore and brought Pereira home from first to give Clemson a 2-0 lead after three.
Georgia Tech evened things in the fifth after the leadoff batter drew a walk. The next batter hit a single and a throwing error advanced the leadoff to third. A single into left field scored the first run and then the second was brought home by a sac fly to level things at 2-all.
The Tigers were looking for a spark in the bottom of the seventh inning, which Pereira attempted to provide with a single into left field. Carlee Shannon, who was pinch running for Pereira at first, stole her 42nd career base and then advanced to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Marissa Guimbarda followed with a walk to put runners on the corners with two outs, but both were left stranded forcing extra innings.
Lefty Millie Thompson pulled out a three up three down top of the eighth inning to keep the game tied going into the bottom half of the inning. Logoleo kicked off the Tigers at bats with an in-field hit for a single. NCAA leader in stolen bases, Sam Russ, then laid down a successful squeeze bunt to safely reach first and advance the runner. In the next at bat, right fielder Arielle Oda went first pitch swinging to produce a successful out, advancing both runners into scoring position with only one out to set up Moore for the walk-off RBI single down the right field line giving Clemson the 3-2 win.
Spencer pitched the first five innings for the Tigers. She struck out three batters while only allowing one walk before being replaced by Thompson in the top of the sixth. Thompson pitched lights out for the final three innings picking up four strikeouts, including two in the eighth, on her way to improving to 12-3 in the circle.
At the conclusion of the game, Clemson honored seven seniors for their time and dedication to the Orange and Regalia over the few seasons. These seniors included: Marissa Guimbarda, Grace Mattimore, Cammy Pereira, Sam Russ, Carlee Shannon, Bailey Taylor and Emma Whitfield.
Up Next
The Tigers now await their seeding for the 2022 ACC Softball Championships that will be announced following next weekend. The ACC Championships will take place in Pittsburgh, Pa. at Vartabedian Field from May 11-14.
Photos Courtesy of Dawson Powers, Clemson Athletics
