CLEMSON – Clemson extended its winning streak to six games and set a dominant precedent with a 9-1 run-rule victory in the program’s first matchup with the Wofford Terriers at McWhorter Stadium Friday afternoon.
In its first appearance in the annual Tiger Invitational, Clemson notched 11 hits from eight different players and held the Terriers scoreless for four frames. The Tigers have now outscored opponents 46-2 before this game in the last six matchups and remain perfect 6-0 at home this season.
Clemson (12-5) is now 13-1 all-time in games at the Tiger Invitational, dating back to the 2021-22 season. With another victory, The Tigers are also one game shy of hitting the 250-win milestone as a program.
Third baseman Marian Collins extended her hitting streak to seven games, while catcher Corri Hicks went yard for the third time this season to give the Tigers an early lead. Pitcher Lexie Hames fought through a fourth-inning finger injury and a first-inning jam to record her second-longest career outing.
Wofford, (14-3) fresh off of a 9-1 loss to Mississippi State in the first game of the Invitational Friday morning, knocked any sleepiness out of the Tigers quickly, opening the game with a quick leadoff single.
The Tigers’ committed their only error of the day when the second hitter reached first on a fielder’s choice. The ball got by Collins, Clemson’s second baseman, and bumped the leadoff hitter to third.
The leadoff batter scored on a fielder’s choice.
After allowing a hit and a walk in the first inning, Hames finished out strong with two strikeouts to escape the inning, and never let up on the Terriers’ lineup. The freshman struck out two more in the second inning, keeping Wofford at bay until Collins woke up Clemson’s offense in the bottom of the second.
As the leadoff hitter in the second inning, Collins raked her third double of the season to put Clemson in immediate scoring position. Shortstop Kiley Channell punched her over to third with a sacrifice bunt and Collins, getting in her stance, looked to steal her third base of the season.
Stealing became unnecessary, however, when Hicks stepped up to the plate. On a 3-1 count, the Oklahoma transfer launched a homer 265-feet at 79 miles-per-hour to give Clemson its first lead, 2-1. It marked Hicks’ No. 11 and No. 12 RBIs of the year.
Hicks had no doubt as she cashed in a fake 100-dollar bill with head coach John Rittman’s face on it in the communal ATM in the Tigers’ dugout afterwards. And her long ball got the momentum going.
Brockenbrough notched her tenth hit in the last nine games to open the third with a bunt single. Designated player Julia Knowler drove her home with a single through the middle. Collins scored Pavese, who reached on a fielder’s choice, with a sacrifice fly– a 4-1 lead.
Despite holding a comfortable lead after the third, Clemson’s best frame did not come until the fourth inning, in which the Tigers plated five runs on five hits.
Taylor Pipkins got it started with a leadoff double, Brockenbrough and Pavese singled, and right fielder Macey Cintron blasted a shot off the right field wall for an RBI triple– her first this season and second of her career.
Collins sent yet another RBI single to right field to score pinch runner Ava Wilson and secure the final 9-1 score.
Brockenbrough, Pavese, and Collins each had multi-hit games for the Tigers. Eleven Tigers got at-bats as Clemson run-ruled another opponent. Now, the Tigers have won five of their last six games in condensed innings.
After the unearned run in the first, Lexie Hames never let the Terriers threaten again. The Harmony, Pa., native, threw four innings, picking up X strikeouts with three walks and three hits in X batters faced.
After starting the season throwing just 3.1 innings across four appearances, her last two appearances against Wofford and Lipscomb have featured 11 full innings with five hits, six walks, and 16 strikeouts.
The Tigers are now on deck to eclipse 250 wins as a program and 1,000 career wins for head coach John Rtitman with their next victory. Clemson will get its next chance momentarily.
Moment of the Game
After a slow start to the season, last year’s ACC Rookie of the Year, Macey Cintron recorded her first extra base hit this season. As she got set on third base, her teammates and coaches were fired up in the home dugout.
Up Next
The Tigers will have a chance to extend their winning streak to seven games quickly, as Clemson will take on Georgia Southern in their second game in the Tiger Invitational. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in McWhorter Stadium. Coverage will be shown on ACC Extra.