Middle Innings Sink Virginia at Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. – Virginia (8-7, 0-2 ACC) fought its way back from a four-run deficit in the first inning to tie the game, but Clemson (13-7, 2-0 ACC) scored four unanswered to clinch the series with an 8-4 victory on Saturday (Feb. 29).
 
Katie Goldberg (Atlanta, Ga.) and Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.) lifted back-to-back home runs in the third while Mikaila Fox (Ocean Springs, Miss.) drove in two runs with a double to lead the Cavaliers. Molly Grube (Chesterfield, Va.) took the loss in the circle. Grube (1-4) allowed all eight Tiger runs in three innings.
 
Clemson was powered by MK Bonamy who drove in three runs with a 2-for-4 day. Valerie Cagle added a pair of RBI and a 2-for-3 game. Logan Caymol (6-1) earned the win by tossing six innings for the Tigers. She allowed four runs on five hits.

KEY INNING
Leading 5-4, Clemson got three-straight hits to open the bottom of the fourth. A bunt-single from Cammy Pereira started the frame before Grace Mattimore and Valerie Cagle followed with back-to-back doubles. Two runs scored to extend the Tiger lead to 7-4 and chase Grube from the circle. Clemson would push another run across on a fielder’s choice to make it 8-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Clemson scored four runs, all coming with two outs, in the bottom of the first. Pereira opened the inning with a single before a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs. Alia Logoleo drove home the first with an infield single before MK Bonamy and Bailey Taylor recorded RBI-singles of their own. All three of the two-out hits came with two strikes in the count.
 
Virginia pulled a pair back in the top of the second, producing a two-out rally of its own. Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) reached on a hit-by-pitch before Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) singled to put two aboard. Fox drove both home with a two-out double over the left fielder’s head, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
 
The Cavaliers would draw level an inning later, launching back-to-back solo homers to tie the game. Goldberg launched her third home run of the year to left before Friedman followed with her third of the season to dead center.
 
Clemson answered in its half of the third, using a lead-off double from Hannah Goodwin and single from Bonamy to retake the lead, 5-4. The Tigers extended their advantage to 8-4 an inning later on three hits.

ON THE LINES
• Friedman’s homer extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
• Rachel Keshin (New Canaan, Conn.) roped a lead-off single in the seventh to record a hit in her first at-bat of the year.
• Ritchie finished the day 1-for-3 with a run scored.
• Riley Wilkinson (Fairfax Station, Va.) worked out of a pair of jams to toss three scoreless frames in relief.

UP NEXT
Virginia and Clemson close the series on Sunday (March 1) with a noon start at Clemson Softball Stadium.