Tigers Open ACC Play with win Over No. 16 Duke
With nine-hits, Clemson (18-6, 1-0 ACC) extended its winning streak to 15 games. The Tigers’ bats caught fire as the game progressed, with seven different players recording at least one hit. Macey Cintron set the tone with two leadoff singles, both sparking four-run innings. Ava Wilson and Marian Collins delivered at the plate, as well, with each collecting three RBIs to help power Clemson to victory.
Shortstop Alex Brown picked up two RBIs herself.
Pitcher Reese Basinger battled through adversity in the circle, staying poised under pressure. Facing several hard-hit balls right back at her, she remained steady and came up clutch when it mattered most. Basinger secured her sixth win of the season and her first ACC victory, while allowing five hits and recording four strikeouts.
The Tigers, defensively, were just as good. Clemson’s fielders came up with big plays behind Basinger, making key plays to shut down Duke’s scoring opportunities.
Cintron ignited Clemson’s offense in the second inning, ripping a single up the middle to put early pressure on Duke’s defense. Aby Vieira battled through a gritty at-bat before dropping a shot over second base, advancing Kennedy Ariail into scoring position.
With two outs, Collins launched a deep drive over the left fielder’s head to plate two runs and give Clemson a 2-0 lead.
Moments later, Brown capitalized on the momentum, drilling a powerful hit to the right side to bring in two more runs, extending the Tigers’ lead to 4-0.
Clemson’s defense held strong in the third, working around an error and a pair of baserunners to keep Duke off the board.
Cintron stayed hot at the plate. The freshman led off the bottom of the third inning with a sharp line drive to right. The Tigers quickly took advantage of a throwing error, with Cintron’s heads-up baserunning to add another run.
With one out, Duke turned to its bullpen, but the Tigers’ bats stayed relentless. A high-pressure bunt from Sam Minish forced a wild throw, allowing two more runs to score. Collins ripped her second double of the day to drive in another, pushing Clemson’s lead to 8-0.
Duke (14-7, 0-1 ACC) showed signs of life in the fourth, as Kairi Rodriguez and Amiah Burgess launched back-to-back home runs to get the Blue Devils on the board. A ball of the center field wall allowed Duke to add another run to the board.
A tricky hit scored another for the Blue Devils, cutting the deficit to four, 8-4.
it didn’t take long for the Tigers to put runs back on the board. Maddie Moore picked up her first hit of the game to start the bottom of the fourth. A shot by Minish followed by a throwing error from the Blue Devils allowed the Tigers to get back two of their runs.
A two-run liner from Wilson forced the Blue Devils to make their second pitching change of the day and extended the Clemson lead to 12-4.
Up Next
The Tigers take on Duke in the second game of the three-game series Saturday at McWhorter Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
