CLEMSON — Like baseball, softball is a simple sport. The best way to win is to pitch well and play defense.

That is exactly what No. 23 Clemson did this weekend to capture the Clemson Classic at McWhorter Stadium. The Tigers’ Lexie Hames, Abby Dunning and Sierra Maness combined to pitch 23 scoreless innings, including a complete game shutout in the Tigers’ 3-0 victory over Baylor in the Championship Game on Sunday, as Clemson swept through the three-day tournament.

Clemson outscored its four opponents 27-0 this weekend.

“Big win for us today to complete the weekend sweep,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said. “After a tough big-week loss, I love the way our team responded this weekend, starting in the circle. I always joke with our pitchers, ‘If we do not give up any runs, we are going to win.’

“Certainly, we did that this weekend. We had four shutouts.”

On top of its pitching, Clemson (10-5) committed just two errors all weekend, as it went 4-0 in the tournament. Dunning, Maness and Hames recorded 24 strikeouts and walked just six. On Sunday, Dunning and Maness combined to get the Tigers’ fourth straight shutout with six combined strikeouts and one walk.

Clemson pitching allowed just eight hits combined in the four games this weekend, including two on Sunday.

“We just kind of got in a groove now. We came back (after Charlotte) and had a practice and said, ‘We are really going to take this serious and step in and be a staff collectively,'” Maness said. “I think the switch clicked on and we really came together.”

Maness, who came in for Dunning with two outs in the fourth inning, was credited with the win in the championship game. The righty improved to 4-2 in the circle. Baylor fell to 11-4 on the season, as Cambree Creager was charged with the loss.

“It’s great to have a pitching staff and know we can count on anybody,” Maness said. “Hames getting her start and Abby getting her start, just to come in, and have four shutouts, is just amazing for our staff.”

At the plate, Marian Collins went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and home run, while Mac Pavese went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in one run. The Tigers also got hits from Jamison Brockenbrough, Kiley Channell and Kylee Johnson.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Collins singled to left field to score Brockenbrough from third base. Brockenbrough and Pavese led off the Clemson first with back-to-back base hits, and Knowler loaded the bases with a full-count walk.

After Sarah Breaux popped up to third base, Collins drove Creager’s 1-2 pitch to left to score Brockenbrough for the 1-0 lead.

Clemson extend its lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second after Pavese doubled to right centerfield to score Brockenbrough from first, who kept the inning alive with a two-out walk.

With two outs in the fifth inning, Collins smacked a home run to left field, extending the Tigers’ lead to 3-0, which closed out the scoring.

INJURIES

Clemson starter Abby Dunning left the game with two outs in the top of the fourth. The senior was grabbing her lower left leg after she got Baylor’s Leah Cran to pop up to third base for the Bears’ second out of the inning.

After the game, Rittman said Dunning had a lower leg injury and she will be evaluated by team doctors.

“We do not know (what it is). We will let the doctors look at it,” he said. “She had an injury similar last year that put her on the shelf, so we will see what happens. Hopefully, it is not serious and hopefully she gets back at it soon.”

UP NEXT

Clemson will hit the road and travel to No. 12 Georgia on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.