CLEMSON – After 6 2/3 full innings of scoreless softball and a no-hitter from pitcher Abby Dunning, catcher Corri Hicks blasted her fourth home run of the season to defeat Georgia Tech, 1-0, and claim the second win of the series Saturday against the Yellow Jackets at McWhorter Stadium.
With the win, Clemson improved 15-0 all-time against Georgia Tech, and remain a perfect 2-0 in the start of ACC play.
While the Tigers’ offense struggled, Dunning kept Clemson (16-7, 2-0 ACC) in it with a seven-inning shutout, allowing no hits, with four strikeouts and two walks, her longest appearance of the season.
“Exciting win for the Tigers today,” head coach John Rittman said postgame. “Just an absolute awesome performance for Abby Dunning in the circle to throw the no-hitter. Just phenomenal for her and made some great defensive plays behind her.
This marked the Tigers’ lowest margin of victory this season, and improved the record at McWhorter Stadium to 10-2.
Less than 24 hours after Clemson plated nine runs against the Yellow Jackets, the same lineup struggled to find any momentum offensively. The Tigers went three innings without any player touching base.
Though Georgia Tech starter Tymber Harris struck out one, she did not walk any players and forced weak contact from nearly every hitter in the first three frames.
“Credit to their pitching staff,” Rittman said. They used all their pitchers and kind of kept us off balance. I thought it was a great game plan by their coaches. And we’re a good enough offense, we can usually adjust to that. Today I just felt like we couldn’t get a key hit. We couldn’t get anything going.”
On the other side, Dunning kept Georgia Tech’s offense at bay as well, turning in four early innings of work that featured no runs, no hits, two walks, one hit-by-pitch, and three strikeouts.
Georgia Tech (15-10, 0-2 ACC) put two runners on in the fourth inning on Dunning’s hit-by-pitch and a walk, but the right-handed pitcher induced a groundout to escape the jam. The Tigers and Yellow Jackets remained in a scoreless stalemate heading into the bottom of the fourth.
A new pitcher came in relief as the top of Clemson’s order came to the plate.
Shortstop Kiley Channell finally ended the base-running drought for the Tigers with a one-out single through the middle. It marked the first hit of the game for either team. Still, two immediate fly outs left the junior stranded.
Dunning answered with her third 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon, striking out her fourth Jackets player of the day.
In the bottom of the inning, third baseman Sarah Breaux reached on a leadoff throwing error from Georgia Tech’s third baseman. She was the first leadoff batter to get on base. Catcher Corri Hicks reached on a fielder’s choice, but the Yellow Jackets forced an out at second.
Designated player Julia Knowler drew a full-count walk to put runners on first and second for Clemson’s first time of the day. However, right fielder Taylor Pipkins grounded into a double play to end the inning.
After another scoreless frame from Dunning in the sixth, Brockenbrough found her way on base on Georgia Tech’s second error of the day. Two fly outs left her stranded, Clemson’s third player left on base on the afternoon.
After Dunning pitched another scoreless inning in the seventh, Hicks came up with two outs and sent her blast to left centerfield with an exit velocity of 74 miles-per-hour. It was just the second hit of the day for the Tigers.
“We won the series, but we’re definitely not satisfied,” Rittman said. “We want to go for the sweep tomorrow, but really proud of the way we competed even though things weren’t going our way offensively.”
NOT VERY GOOD
Georgia Tech finished with no hits and two walks (.000) and one hit by pitch, while Clemson finished 2-for-23 It marked the fourth time this season and the second time at home that the Tigers have been held to one or no runs. It is the third time this season a Clemson game has been decided by two or fewer runs.
LINEUP CHANGE
Taylor Pipkins got the start in right field on Saturday. Pipkins was subbed in for Macey Cintron ahead of the fifth inning last night and continued in the spot today. Cintron did not make an appearance on Saturday.
“I think just Taylor needed an opportunity,” Rittman said. “She’s played in a lot of big games for us. She works hard, very good defensive outfielder and last year she played a lot of outfield for us. This year she’s played second, and now outfield. But I thought she needed an opportunity and she came through with a great defensive play for us today.”
NO ERRORS, NO PROBLEMS
Despite offensive struggles, Clemson’s defense recorded no errors, while Georgia Tech finished with two. Both resulted in Tigers reaching first in the leadoff spot.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will look to complete a sweep in their first ACC series on Sunday, when Clemson hosts Georgia Tech in Game 3. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.