Clemson softball handles Troy in first ever NCAA Tournament game

The Clemson softball team vowed to play with a chip on its shoulder in the NCAA Tournament after feeling that it was snubbed by receiving a No. 2 seed in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

The Tigers certainly looked like a team on a mission in Friday’s opening game against Troy.

The ACC regular-season champs handled the Trojans in their first NCAA Tournament game in program history, earning an 8-0 victory at Rhoads Stadium.

Clemson (43-6) will face the winner of Friday night’s game between Alabama and Alabama State in the winners’ bracket game Saturday at noon.

“Just excited for our coaches, our staff, our players to get that first win in our postseason history,” Clemson coach John Rittman said. “Just a special day for our program.”

ACC Player of the Year Valerie Cagle picked up where she left off heading into the postseason.

The redshirt freshman and two-way player hit a pair of home runs and struck out 10 in Clemson’s victory.

Cagle, who is Clemson’s ace and also leads the Tigers in average, home runs and RBIs, picked up the win to improve to 27-5 on the year. The Virginia native allowed only one hit in four innings of work.

Her second home run, which came in the bottom of the fifth inning, ended up being a walk-off shot as the Tigers won by the run rule.

“In our first postseason game, obviously a lot of great performances, starting with Valerie Cagle in the circle,” Rittman said. “She had all of her stuff working today and pitched extremely well.

Alia Logoleo also homered for the Tigers, getting Clemson on the board with a three-run shot in the first inning.

Millie Thompson finished off the game on the mound for Clemson, pitching a scoreless fifth inning.

Cagle was 2-for-2 with a walk, three runs scored and four RBIs. In addition to Cagle and Logoleo, Marissa Guimbarda also drove in a run for the Tigers.