Tigers Win Ninth Straight in 6-0 Victory Over Boston College

Photos by Nadia Salameh, Clemson Athletics

CLEMSON, S.C. — The No. 17 Clemson Tigers (29-4, 19-4 ACC) won the first contest of its four-game series against the Boston College Eagles (8-22, 4-14 ACC) by a score of 6-0 Friday evening at McWhorter Stadium. The victory extended the Tigers’ win streak to nine games, and Clemson improved to 37-0 all-time and 20-0 this season when scoring five or more runs.

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

Clemson ace Valerie Cagle (18-3), who entered Friday’s contest as the ACC’s ERA leader, pitched her seventh complete-game shutout of the season to earn the win. Cagle allowed her first hit in the 4th inning that ended a 9.2 inning no-hit streak, dating back to the Tigers’ series finale against North Carolina on April 3. Boston College pitcher Susannah Anderson suffered the loss and fell to 5-12 on the season.  

The Tigers opened the scoring in their half of the first frame when infielder Ansley Gilstrap roped her fifth double of the season down the left field line. Cagle knocked her in with a single through the right side to collect her 27th RBI on the season. 

Valerie Cagle singles through the right side to score Ansley Gilstrap, who tallied her fifth double of the season to get on base 🙌

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— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) April 16, 2021

That tie did not last long, as Marissa Guimbarda’s third-inning single up the middle scored Gilstrap to double the Clemson lead to 2-0. Following an Abi Stuart single, Kyah Keller stroked a single through the right side that scored Guimbarda, and Stuart (2-for-3) reached home safely as a result of the Eagles’ catcher misplaying the right-fielder’s throw to the plate. 

Kyah Keller (@KyahRayK) comes up with an other clutch RBI-single, this one pushes our lead to 4-0 🤝

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— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) April 16, 2021

Guimbarda’s big night (2-for-3) continued in the fifth inning when she blasted her ninth home run of the season deep over the left-center field wall, extending Clemson’s lead to 5-0. With the win, the Tigers’ improved to 24-0 on the season and 40-2 all-time when hitting at least one home run.

GUIMBARDA, GONE‼️

Wind blowing in? No problem. @mguimbarda mashes her ninth home run of the season on a deep shot to center field that nearly hits a car 😂

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— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) April 16, 2021

Clemson tacked on one more home run in the sixth as Morgan Johnson smacked her fourth home run of the year to center field. Johnson’s bell-ringer marked the 13th multi-home run effort by the Tigers this season.

MORGAN JOHNSON (@Mo_Johnson42), ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

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— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) April 16, 2021

Cagle closed out the three-hit shutout in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a leaping snag by left-fielder Alia Logoleo to end the game and secure the series opener for Clemson.

We'll just end it on this one 😏

🥎👋 @alialogoleo#SCTop10 #D1Top10

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— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) April 16, 2021

Up next, the Tigers and Boston College (8-21, 4-13 ACC) return to McWhorter Stadium on Saturday for a doubleheader, which begins at noon. Both of Saturday’s contests are set to broadcast on RSN, which include: FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Florida, YES, NESN Plus, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Marquee, MASN2 and FOX Sports Southwest Plus.

For complete coverage of the Tiger softball team, follow @ClemsonSoftball on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.

Marissa Guimbarda (@mguimbarda) extends our lead to 2-0‼️

📺 ACCNX (https://t.co/HFCYeRNcIM) pic.twitter.com/BvvbTC2m5q

— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) April 16, 2021