Clemson softball season ends with loss to Alabama in NCAA Tournament

Clemson softball suffered a 5-0 loss to Alabama Sunday afternoon in the Tuscaloosa Regional championship as the Tigers’ season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 2 seed Tigers needed to beat No. 1 seed Alabama twice to advance to a Super Regional. However, Clemson dropped Game 1 to the Crimson Tide.

Clemson’s season ends at 44-8. Alabama — the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament — enters the super regional with a 48-7 record.

“Just an outstanding year for our program. Just so happy for our players to experience the success that we have in a short amount of time,” Tigers coach John Rittman said. “Just so proud of our staff and this team and the things that we accomplished this year.”

Alabama ace Montana Fouts kept Clemson’s bats under control for the second consecutive game. A day after shutting out the Tigers in a 6-0 win, Fouts once again pitched a complete-game shutout.

The junior struck out 12 and allowed only three hits in seven innings of work.

Clemson softball ace Valerie Cagle suffered the loss, allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Still, the ACC Player of the Year is only a freshman, and the Tigers should have a bright future with a young team, including Cagle.

“To win 44 games in your second year as a program is pretty remarkable,” Rittman said. “You don’t do that without a lot of great people and a lot of great players.”