Moore and Garcia Homer, Tigers Drop Semifinal Matchup in Extras
DURHAM, N.C. - Junior Maddie Moore hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, and graduate Lindsey Garcia hit a solo shot in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as top-seeded Duke claimed a 4-3 victory in the semifinals of the ACC Championships in extras. This was Clemson’s seventh extra-inning game of the season. Through 51 games, Clemson holds a 34-17 record, while the Blue Devils improve to 46-6.
Moore clocked her team-high 10th home run of the season in the top of the first inning with a two-run shot to left. She brought home McKenzie Clark who led off the game with a full-count walk.
The Blue Devils tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the fourth after the leadoff batter reached on a fielding error. A double followed by a single with two outs allowed two runs to score.
Both team’s defenses kept things level through the fifth and sixth innings. Garcia tallied her solo shot off the video board in Duke Softball Stadium in the top of the seventh to make it 3-2 in Clemson’s favor. The Blue Devils responded in the bottom half of the inning after both leadoff hitters had back-to-back singles. The leadoff came home to score, but Clemson’s defense ended the inning with things tied, 3-3.
Aby Vieira looked to push back for the Tigers by leading off the eighth with a double off the left center wall, but her pinch runner, Julia Bomhardt, would be left stranded. On the defensive end, Clemson forced Duke to leave a runner stranded at third to end the inning and push things to the ninth.
The Tigers went down in order in the top of the ninth. Duke got one runner on in the bottom of the inning, and on a shot that looked like it was going to end it for a two-run homer, center fielder Clark made the jumping catch at the wall to rob the home run and send things to the 10th inning. The Blue Devils were able to win, 4-3, with a bang-bang play at the plate that had a runner sliding under the tag at home.
Valerie Cagle started in the circle for Clemson. She faced 19 batters in four innings of work with two strikeouts before Millie Thompson entered in relief. Thompson pitched three innings with one strikeout and 12 batters faced. Regan Spencer entered in the bottom of the eighth inning. She pitched three innings with one strikeout in the loss to fall to 10-4 on the season.
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The Tigers will await their 2024 postseason designation during the Selection Show, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 12 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.