CLEMSON – After being shut out for just the fourth time against UNC Greensboro Friday, Clemson got its revenge at Jack Turner Stadium Saturday with a 4-1 win over the Spartans at the Athens (Georgia) Regional.
With the victory, Clemson moves on to the championship regional round Sunday against the Georgia Bulldogs. Just 24 hours after facing elimination, the Tigers clawed their way back to life Saturday, outscoring two opponents 5-2 in a doubleheader.
With the victory, Clemson (34-21) improves to 7-1 in doubleheader games this season, shutting out teams this year. The defensive success from the last two days, in large part, was due to starting pitcher Abby Dunning.
While Dunning’s seven-inning, two-hit performance was squandered by a meandering Clemson offense Friday, she earned a much-earned win on Saturday. The graduate gave up one run on four hits with two hit-by-pitches and six strikeouts against the Spartans, (43-19) bringing her record to 9-9 on the year. The right-hander has notched 15 strikeouts across her first three NCAA Tournament games this weekend.
The Chicago, Ill., native has now allowed one or fewer runs in seven appearances of four or more innings this season. She has now pitched four seven-inning games.
Offensively, Jamison Brockenbrough doubled twice, Mac Pavese went 2-for-3 with a double, and five other Tigers notched hits as Clemson’s offense finished with nine on the evening.
Clemson finished 5-for-14 with runners on base, and 3-10 with two outs. The Tigers have now held 21 opponents to one or fewer runs this season.
After suffering its second program loss to UNCG Friday, Clemson bounced back to take a 4-2 lead in the overall series. The Tigers have now climbed out of the losers’ bracket for the first time in program history.
After a slow start against the Spartans Friday, centerfielder Jamison Brockenbrough did not hesitate to rewrite her offense’s wrongs from the day prior. On a 2-2 count, the leadoff hitter blasted her eighth double of the year to get things rolling.
With one out, first baseman Mac Pavese doubled down the left field line to score Brockenbrough. With the double, she improved to 3-for-5 on the day. Next up, designated player Macey Cintron singled, but Collins was thrown out at home to conclude the offensive mojo.
Brockenbrough kept the momentum going in the top of the third, doubling to open the inning. After starting 0-for-6 on the weekend, she improved to 3-for-9 in her last three at-bats. Kiley Channell’s sacrifice bunt moved her to third, and Pavese walked to put runners on the corners.
Pavese stole second and advanced to third on an error, scoring Brockenbrough for the second time of the evening. Clemson held a 2-0 lead through four frames.
In the bottom of the fifth, UNCG struck back. Dunning gave up a single and a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. A long single from Jazmin Mejia scored the runner, cutting the lead in half at 2-1.
The Tigers added two more insurance runs in the seventh, with an error, a double from right fielder Taylor Pipkins on the tenth pitch of the at-bat, and a sacrifice groundout from Brockenbrough. A Kiley Channell single scored Pipkins for the final 4-1 score.
Dunning held the Spartans scoreless for two final innings to secure the victory.
Spartans pitcher Brooklyn Shroyer came in the third, giving up one run in five innings. Her record fell to 22-8 on the year with the loss. Shroyer allowed Clemson no runs Friday and finished her season with a 1.48 Earned Run Average.
Up Next
The Tigers will be in action again Sunday, when they will play Georgia for a chance to extend their season. Clemson must defeat the Bulldogs twice to win the Athens Regional. First pitch of game one is set for noon.