Clemson softball makes history, punches ticket to program’s first Super Regional

Will Vandervort
·2 min read

Clemson’s softball program was just a dream six years ago. On Sunday, the Tigers won an NCAA regional championship.

The Tigers, the No. 10 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, won the program’s first regional championship with an 8-0 victory Sunday over Louisiana in the Clemson Regional at McWhorter Stadium.

Clemson (42-15) exploded for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, which eventually invoked the eight-run mercy rule. The Tigers were led by Cammy Pereira’s 3-for-3 day with two runs scored at the plate and by Valerie Cagles’s four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the decisive fourth inning.

Millie Thompson earned her second win of the regional with another stellar pitching performance. She followed her no-hit performance on Friday by allowing just one hit in a complete-game shutout against Louisiana (47-13).

Tigers break it open in the fourth

Clemson broke the game open in the fourth inning. The Tigers scored seven runs on six hits after heading into the inning clinging to a one-run lead.

With the Tigers already up 5-0 with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and two runners on, Cagle launched a three-run shot over the wall in right field to put the mercy rule in play. Cagle’s home run was the second of the inning for the Tigers, who also got a solo home run with one out from catcher Aby Vieira. Clemson scored seven runs in the fourth inning.

Cagle proves why she is one of the country’s top players

A day after throwing a complete-game shutout, Cagle was 2-for-3 on the day and had four RBIs. She also had a one-out RBI single in the top of the first inning to score Pereira. Clemson’s two-time All-ACC performer scored the Tigers’ lone run in Saturday’s win over Auburn in Game 3.

Stat of the game

Clemson outscored UNC Wilmington, Auburn and Louisiana 18-0 on their way to winning their first regional championship. The Tigers allowed just five hits, walked just one batter and hit two in 17 innings.

Up Next

Clemson will play the winner of the Stillwater Regional in the Super Regional Round of the NCAA Softball Tournament next week.