Valerie Cagle worked out of trouble in the fifth and the offense picked her up from there to run-rule Charlotte. (Clemson athletics photo)

by CU Athletic Communications - Wed Mar 15 20:53:29 GMT-04:00 2023

CLEMSON, S.C. – Behind a seven-run fifth inning, and a two-run homer by Arielle Oda, the No. 4/4 Clemson Tigers capped Wednesday night’s game with a 9-1 victory at McWhorter Stadium in five innings against the Charlotte 49ers. Clemson improves to 26-1 overall and extends its home win streak to 24 games.

The Tigers outhit the 49ers, 10-3, behind a three-hit performance from McKenzie Clark, who also tallied two RBIs and three runs scored. Caroline Jacobsen followed with two hits, three RBIs and one run of her own, while Oda finished with two hits, two RBIs and one run scored.

Clark and Maddie Moore opened the game with back-to-back singles in the first inning to get the Tigers going early. Valerie Cagle advanced both of them, and a single to the third baseman from Jacobsen brought Clark home to give the Tigers the lead. The 49ers responded in the top of the second after the leadoff batter got on due to an error. She was able to make it around before Clemson could capture all three outs to make it 1-1 after two.

In the bottom of the third, Clark added her second hit of the night with another single before stealing her eighth base of the year to move into scoring position. Cagle advanced Clark to third, and Jacobsen tallied her second RBI, hitting a double to left field to give Clemson the 2-1 advantage.

Charlotte attempted to strike back in the top of the fifth, getting two runners into scoring position, but Clemson’s defense picked up three quick outs to keep the 49ers off the board.

The Tiger bats came alive in the bottom half of the inning after Reedy Davenport reached on a fielding error. Returning to the top of the lineup, Clark stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer, also plating pinch runner Ansley Houston. The momentum continued with an RBI double from Cagle that sent Moore home, who had walked. Jacobsen followed with an RBI double of her own to right field to score pinch runner Sarah Howell. Aby Vieira kept the bats hot, sending Jacobsen home on a single to left field. With a runner on and only one out, Oda walked the game off with a two-run bomb, her first home run of the season, to give the Tigers the 9-1 victory.

Cagle started in the circle and struck out eight batters while limiting 21 opponents to only three hits. The redshirt junior tossed her eighth complete game of 2023 to improve to 11-1.

Up Next

The Tigers are back in action this weekend welcoming Virginia to McWhorter Stadium for a three-game series beginning on Friday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. on ACCNX.