ATHENS, Ga. – One mistake.
That is all it took for No. 6 Clemson to find itself dropping to the elimination game after a stunning 1-0 loss to UNC Greensboro at Jack Turner Stadium in Game 1 of the Athens (Georgia) Regional.
The Tigers’ mistake came with one out in the top of the first inning. UNC Greensboro’s Ny South hit into what looked like a routine grounder to shortstop. Clemson’s Kiley Channell had no issue fielding the ball for the Tigers and her throw to first base was on target. Yet, first baseman Mac Pavese made a rare mistake and closed her glove too early.
“It is a weird game,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said. “You have been playing it your whole life, and obviously, Mac feels real bad about it. You see it at all levels. You have to play catch and sometimes the easiest plays do not happen. That is softball.”
The Spartans (43-17) made the Tigers pay as lead-off hitter Macy Michael, who singled to start the game and moved to second on a sac-bunt from Kaylyn Belfield, move to third base on the dropped ball. A few moments later, she came home on Laney Deane’s grounder to second base.
It turned out to be the winnings run.
Clemson (32-21) tried to come back on several occasions. Channell doubled twice in the game, but the Tigers failed to bring her home in both occasions. The Tigers finished the afternoon 0-for-9 with runners on base and 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
“Kind of one of our issues, is scoring with runners in scoring position, and it got us again today,” Rittman said. “We could not get the timely hit. We had some hard-hit balls right at them in clutch times, but credit (Shroyer) and their defense. They made some plays that they needed to make.
“It is a game of inches. Marian (Collins) almost hits the gap (in the sixth) that would have tied it. Jam (Brockenbrough), our centerfielder made two great plays to keep it close.”
UP NEXT
Clemson will play in the elimination game against the College of Charleston, scheduled for 3:30 p.m., today. The Tigers will need to win Game 4 of the regional and then Game 5 right after that to keep their season alive.