CLEMSON — Catcher Corri Hicks blasted her second home run in three games Tuesday to lift No. 25 Clemson to a 7-3 win over Winthrop, preserving a perfect midweek record at McWhorter Stadium and an undefeated all-time record against the Eagles.
Six Clemson players combined for nine hits, as Clemson bounced back from a recent loss the past Sunday, plating four runs off of Hicks’ first-inning dinger. Pitcher Sierra Maness came on in relief and threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball to get the win.
The Eagles (14-12) drew blood in the top of the first inning, as Clemson pitcher Keira Crosby issued a leadoff walk. The baserunner stole second, and was driven home on a fielding error from second baseman Marian Collins to take a 1-0 lead.
Crosby notched one strikeout and forced weak contact to end the inning, getting out of a jam with two runners on base.
Centerfielder Jamison Brockenbrough got the momentum turned on for the Tigers shortly after, with a slap-bunt single. The senior advanced to second on a wild pitch, and first baseman Mac Pavese drew a walk to put two on base. Brockenbrough scored moments later when designated player Julia Knowler singled through the middle on a full count to tie the score.
With two runners on and two outs, catcher Hicks — the hero of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Georgia Tech — launched her fifth home run of the year, this time a three-run shot, for a 4-1 lead. The sophomore’s blast travelled 236 feet at 73 miles-per-hour, directly mirroring her two-out, walk-off bomb 36 hours prior against the Yellow Jackets.
After the Tigers (17-8) nearly batted around in the first frame, Brockenbrough again led off the bottom of the second inning. Instead of bunting this time, however, the Locust Grove, Ga., native blasted a hit into left center. She whipped around the bases, stretching the shot into a leadoff triple.
Channell drew a walk after the triple, but two three quick outs ended the second inning and left Clemson scoreless in the frame, despite Brockenbrough’s hustle play.
Crosby’s evening ended after two innings, in which she allowed a hit and a walk, along with a strikeout. The campaign marked her ninth appearance of the year.
In the top of the third, she was replaced by Lexie Hames, another freshman, in the circle. Hames issued a leadoff walk, her 17th of the season, to start her outing and the inning. The baserunner reached second on a wild pitch, third on a fielder’s choice, and came home on a second error from Collins, cutting the lead 4-2.
A one-out, sacrifice fly and a fielding error from third baseman Sarah Breaux sent another runner home for the Eagles before the inning ended with Hames’ first strikeout.
The right-hander got two quick outs in the top of the fourth, after a scoreless frame for Clemson’s offense but gave up two consecutive singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs. At this point, head coach John Rittman brought in Maness for relief. The Tigers’ ace induced a groundout to escape the jam.
Hames finished with 1 2/3 innings of work, with two hits, one earned run, three walks, and two strikeouts across 11 batters faced.
Clemson got some insurance in the bottom of the fourth, as Channell drew a leadoff hit-by-pitch, her second time touching base on the evening. Pavese doubled to left center to put both runners in scoring position, breaking her two-game streak without a hit. A sacrifice groundout and fly out scored two more runs for a 6-3 score.
The Tigers tacked on one more run in the sixth when Pavese opened the inning with a single and Collins added a double to put runners in threatening position. A walk and a foul out from Hicks scored Pavese for the final 7-3 lead.
Maness got the win after throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game. She finished with two walks, two strikeouts, and no earned runs, improving her record 9-3.
HOME SWEET HOME
Clemson improved to 9-2 this season at McWhorter Stadium.
STILL PERFECT
The Tigers stayed unbeaten against Winthrop. They are now 7-0 all-time against the Eagles.
WALK IT OUT
Clemson drew six walks and never struck out against Eagles’ pitchers. Winthrop also drew five walks, but added five strikeouts.
ANOTHER BIG NIGHT FOR HICKS
Hicks’ three-run shot marked her fifth game this season with two or more RBIs. She also now has three performances with three or more RBIs on the year. Tuesday marked her third consecutive performance with at least one run batted in.
HISTORY WITH WINTHROP
In seven meetings, the Eagles have scored a total of six runs against Clemson. Three of them came in the loss on Tuesday. The Tigers have outscored Winthrop 39-6 across all matchups.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will continue their homestand this weekend, hosting Louisville (18-5, 2-1 ACC) at McWhorter Stadium for a three-game series. The first installment will take place at 4 p.m. Friday.