Tigers Rally For 16-12 Win Over Eagles
The Tigers, who took a 1-0 lead in the series, improved to 10-9 overall and 4-6 in the ACC. The Eagles dropped to 12-8 overall and 3-7 in ACC play.
The Tigers, who took a 1-0 lead in the series, improved to 10-9 overall and 4-6 in the ACC. The Eagles dropped to 12-8 overall and 3-7 in ACC play.
Nick Clayton (2-0), the last of five Tiger pitchers, earned the win, as Clemson allowed just four hits against a team that entered the game with a .317 batting average on the season.
Tiger starter Keyshawn Askew gave up just three hits and one unearned run with a career-high seven strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched, while Nick Clayton tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in relief of one-hit ball.
With one of her best performances in a Clemson uniform, Delicia Washington commandeered the Tigers with a game-high 28 points to go along with her eight rebounds.
The Hokies, who evened the series 1-1 and snapped their seven-game losing streak in the series, improved to 10-7 overall and 6-5 in the ACC. The Tigers fell to 7-9 overall and 2-6 in ACC play.
After the Hokies scored a run in the top of the first inning, the Tigers exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by run-scoring singles by Caden Grice and Jonathan French and capped by Bryar Hawkins’ three-run triple with two outs.
Coming up clutch with a perfectly executed bank shot, Tylar Bennett put Clemson in front with 16 seconds remaining, and the Tigers went on to win their WNIT opener 65-60 on Friday.
River Bluff grad Ricky Williams struck out four batters in 2.2 innings in his first career start with the Tigers.
This is the first trip for Clemson to the NCAA Tournament since 2018, when the Tigers reached the Sweet 16 round.
Dylan Brewer blasted a two-run homer, his second of the year, in the top of the first inning, then the Tar Heels responded with five runs in the bottom of the first inning, keyed by Clemente Inclan’s two-run homer.