ATHENS, Ga. — Before Friday’s first game of the Athens (Georgia) Regional, Abby Dunning never pitched in an NCAA Tournament game.
Since her first pitch at 4:35 p.m., on Friday, she has pitched two complete games, earned one victory and one save along the way, while guiding No. 2 Clemson to a Sunday afternoon date with top-seeded Georgia.
In 15 innings of work, Dunning has allowed one earned run on six hits, while striking out 15 batters and walking three. Not bad for someone who never threw a pitch in an NCAA Tournament.
“She just kept them off balance, throwing the screw, rise, changeup and hitting her spots inside and outside,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said.
That is what the graduate senior was doing to UNC Greensboro in a complete game, 4-1, victory Saturday night at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. Dunning allowed one run on four hits, while fanning six batter and walking none.
Her performance helped send the Tigers to the championship round of the regional, the program’s fifth in six NCAA appearances since it started in 2020.
“It is awesome. Abby is such a competitor. She is a power pitcher, so when she is on, she is really tough to hit,” Rittman said. “I think she was on yesterday and got in a groove and carried it over to today. I am just really happy for her. She has worked so hard.”
Dunning came to Clemson from Boston College, where she earned All-ACC honors in 2024 and All-ACC Tournament honors, as well. She pitched in just five games last year due to injury and came to Clemson last summer hoping to find her way back to her 2024 form.
It seems she has found it in the Athens Regional.
“It is sometimes hard to make the transition as a one-year transfer graduate student,” Rittman said. “But she has just fit in wonderfully with our team and is a great teammate. So, seeing her have success in this moment is special because that is why she came here.
“She came here to pitch in the postseason, and she is shining bright right now.”
Though Dunning was on Saturday night, her performance on Friday was even better, as she allowed two hits and did not give up an earned run in another compete game performance. Unfortunately for her, the Tigers lost that game 1-0.
She also came out of the bullpen in the College of Charleston game on Saturday to help the Tigers hang on to a 3-1 victory. She threw in the seventh inning, striking out two of the four batters she faced.
