Clemson softball pounds SC, continues dominance over Gamecocks

The Clemson softball program remained unbeaten all-time against rival South Carolina, pounding the Gamecocks 10-0 Tuesday night at McWhorter Stadium.

The Tigers needed only five innings to take care of USC, winning the game in a run rule.

With the win, Clemson improves to 33-1 (9-0) on the year. The fifth-ranked Tigers are now 4-0 in program history against the Gamecocks.

“A great team win tonight for the Tigers,” Clemson coach John Rittman said. “South Carolina’s a good team. I know the score didn’t indicate it, but they’re a really good team this year. … I think it speaks a lot about our team. We have definitely got up for this game the past couple of years and played very well.”

Valerie Cagle was once again the star for Clemson, pitching a one-hit shutout to earn her 16th win of the year.

Cagle struck out five batters and walked one, while lowering her ERA to 0.49 on the season.

“Obviously it starts in the circle with Valerie Cagle. She just pitched a tremendous game and kept their offense off balance all night,” Rittman said.

At the plate, Cagle was 2-for-2 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs. She is now hitting .495 on the year and has homered in four consecutive games.

“I definitely felt for a few weeks there that my swing was out of rhythm. So last week especially I really got back in the cages and tried to get back into a rhythm,” Cagle said. “Just kind of getting more comfortable with my swing again.”

Alia Logoleo was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and also homered for the Tigers, blasting an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall to push Clemson’s lead to 10-0 in the fourth inning.

Clemson scored seven runs total during the fourth, turning a 3-0 lead into a 10-0 advantage.

“It was an 0-2 and I was just battling,” Logoleo said. “I had a feeling she was going to come back with her changeup. That’s what she was a little more comfortable with when she first came in. I just sat back and put my best swing on it.”

Clemson returns to action on Friday, playing at Boston College in Game 1 of the three-game series.