CLEARWATER, Fla. — Valerie Cagle propelled No. 5 Clemson to a 3-2 comeback win over Indiana on Friday night at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Tigers move to 2-0 on the season while the Hoosiers fell to 1-1. 

Indiana took the game’s first lead in the first inning as Cora Bassett led off bottom half of the frame with a solo home run. 

Clemson answered with two runs in the top of the third inning. Arielle Oda started the inning with a walk and two batters later Alex Brown reached on a fielder’s choice. Valerie Cagle reached on an error that kept the inning alive before Julia Knowler doubled to bring in two unearned runs for a 2-1 lead.

The Hoosiers rallied in the bottom of the fourth as they pushed an unearned run across behind two hits to tie the game at 2-2.

The Tigers wasted little time regaining the lead in the top of the fifth. Just like the third inning, Oda again worked a walk to start things off and Brown reached on a fielder’s choice. After Brown stole second, Cagle brought her in on a RBI double for a 3-2 lead.

Clemson starter Millie Thompson (1-0) earned the win after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in 4.0 innings while Cagle picked up the save with 3.0 innings of two-hit, six-strikeout ball. Indiana starter Sophie Kleiman suffered the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on just two hits in 4.0 innings.

The Tigers finished the game with six hits, led by Cagle and Knowler with two each, while the Hoosiers tallied eight hits in the contest.

Clemson is back in action Saturday with two games in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Tigers will take on Liberty at noon before facing No. 13 Oregon at 7:00 p.m. on MLB Network. 

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