Taylor Pipkins made the biggest hit in her young Clemson career Thursday.

With the 10th-ranked Tigers trailing No. 25 Virginia by one-run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, the true freshman laid into a 2-2 pitch from reliever Eden Bigham and launched it over the wall in leftfield for a grand slam.

The home run not only put No. 2 seed Clemson back on top, but it also sent them back to the ACC Tournament Semifinals for a fifth consecutive year at Harrington Village in Brighton, Mass. Pipkins’ game-winning grand slam gave the Tigers a 7-4 victory over No. 7 seed Virginia.

Fellow freshman Macey Cintron drew a walk to get the Clemson sixth inning started. Then after review, Aby Vieira was awarded a base after being hit by a pitch and Marian Collins loaded the bases with a well-placed push-bunt between the pitcher and first base.

That setup Pipkins for her third home run of the season, which ultimately gave Clemson the win.

All-ACC second baseman Maddie Moore had a two-run home run for the Tigers (42-12) in the fifth inning, while Vieira had an RBI single in the fourth. Moore’s home run was her 16th of the season, while also earning RBIs 62 and 63 on the year.

The first three innings were dominated by Clemson starter Reese Bassinger and Virginia starter Courtney Layne. However, the Cavaliers changed pitchers to start the bottom of the fourth inning and Knowler wasted no time getting the Tigers’ offense going.

The sophomore doubled off the wall in left centerfield, and then pinch runner Kennedy Ariail came home one batter later, as Vieira singled through the left side. That gave Clemson a 1-0 lead.

Virginia, however, responded in the top of the fifth inning, as it loaded the bases with a hit and two hit-by-pitches. Basinger and reliever Brooke McCubbin both grazed batters, setting up Jade Hylton’s two-out single that brought home Reece Holbrook and Sydney Hartgrove for a 2-1 lead.

But the Tigers got a two-out rally of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Alex Brown hit a bloop single to right centerfield to keep the inning alive and then Moore smashed a 2-1 offering from Bigham over the wall in centerfield to give Clemson a 3-2 lead.

However, that lead did not last long. Virginia (37-17) got a lead-off single up the middle from Bella Cabral and then Macee Eaton took an 0-1 pitch from McCubbin to left centerfield, putting the Cavaliers back in front, briefly, 4-3.

After that, Pipkins made the fifth lead change of the afternoon with her grand slam home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Undefeated in the quarterfinals

The Tigers are now 5-0 all-time in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. Clemson has now advanced to the semifinals each year it has played in the ACC Championships, while making two appearances in the ACC Championship Game (2021 & 2022).

There was no ACC Tournament in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Giant killers

Clemson, No. 13 in the RPI, has won 18 games against opponents in the top 50 RPI, including seven against top 25 opponents. Most notably against No. 4, 10, 11, 13 (2 games), 23 and 24. Virginia was ranked No. 26 in the latest RPI.

Owning the Cavaliers

Clemson is now 14-2 all-time against the Cavaliers, including taking the quarterfinal game against Virginia, 8-1, during the 2024 ACC Championships.

Up Next

Clemson will play No. 3 seed Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m., in the semifinals on Friday. The Hokies beat No. 6 UNC 4-0 in the quarterfinals.

—photo courtesy of ACC Communications