CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman Sarah Breaux hit a grand slam, and junior Kiley Channell notched two RBIs to propel No. 24/RV Clemson’s 8-6 comeback victory against NR/RV Louisville on Friday afternoon in McWhorter Stadium. Freshman Mac Pavese and junior Julia Knowler also picked up RBIs on the day as the Tigers improved to 18-8 (3-1 ACC) while the Cardinals fell to 19-6 (2-2 ACC).

The Cardinals struck first in the top of the first inning, with a Jordan Williams single scoring two. A pair of defensive errors by the Tigers turned a Taylor Monroe single into another run for the Cardinals, as a passed ball scored Williams from third and made the score 4-0. 

In the bottom of the inning, a two-out rally saw the Tigers hit back. An infield single from Knowler knocked in Pavese and put runners on the corners. Sophomore Corri Hicks drew a walk to load the bases, and Breaux followed that up with her grand slam, giving the Tigers the 5-4 lead heading into the second. This was the first grand slam by a Tiger since Taylor Pipkins hit one during the 2025 ACC Championship game against Virginia, and Breaux became the second Tiger to record a grand slam as their first-collegiate home run, joining Aby Vieira who tallied hers in 2022 against Akron.

The back-and-forth continued as Louisville answered with a two-spot in the top of the second off of a Madison Pickens single. The Tigers’ bats were quiet until the fourth, when four straight bunts, that included a squeeze bunt by Channell to plate Kylee Johnson, evened the score at six apiece. 

Senior Jamison Brockenbrough kept things going with a triple in the bottom of the sixth. A single from Channell brought her home, which was quickly followed by a Pavese double to score pinch runner Sarah Rocheleau and give the Tigers a two-run advantage going into the seventh. This advantage proved to be the difference in the game for Clemson as they improved to 3-1 in ACC play to start the weekend set. 

Junior Sierra Maness got the start in the circle and pitched the full seven, completing four strikeouts to earn her 10th win of the season. 

Up Next

The Tigers continue the series against the Cardinals on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m. on ACCNX. Saturday’s contest will also serve as Alumni Day for the Tigers where they will welcome back players from the 2020-25 teams to McWhorter Stadium.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications