Freshmen Spark Tigers to Victory
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Clemson’s freshmen class provided the offensive spark for the Tigers (2-2) to earn a 10-1 victory against Georgia State (0-2) on Saturday afternoon. Freshman right hander Macey Cintron earned her first victory in the circle with eight strikeouts in five innings of work, while eight RBIs by the Tigers' offense came from five different freshmen.
Georgia State opened scoring for both sides in the top of the fourth, but Clemson had an answer in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Aby Vieira got the Tigers going with a leadoff walk. She was waved home by head coach John Rittman as freshman Marian Collins, who went 2-for-4 at the plate, ripped a triple into the gap in left center for her first collegiate RBI. Freshman Ava Wilson followed with her first RBI after driving a single into right field to score Collins for the lead.
The freshmen continued to push the tempo for the Tigers in the fourth, as Sam Minish was hit by a pitch to join Wilson on the bases. Both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch that allowed Taylor Pipkins to notch her first RBI with a sac fly to left. After Alex Brown walked to put runners on the corners, Minish came home on a throwing error that was attempting to catch Brown stealing second. After four, Clemson led 4-1.
Clemson’s freshmen class didn't slow down offensively as Cintron drew a leadoff walk to open the fifth. She was replaced by Riley Fennell, who advanced to second on a single from Vieira, and eventually came around to score after Wilson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Minish was able to join the freshmen group, picking up her first RBI with a sac fly to plate Fennell and make it 5-1 after five.
In the sixth, Brown and Brockenbrough reached on a walk and single, respectively, and advanced into scoring position on a ground out from Julia Knowler. Cintron picked up her lone RBI with a sac fly to right field, and Vieira, who was replaced by Haylee Whitesides as a pinch runner, was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to put runners back on the corners. Collins ripped her second RBI hit of the game into left field to plate Brockenbrough and make it 7-1.
Sophomore Kennedy Ariail notched a single to load the bases as a pinch hitter, and Whitesides, who was at third, scored on a wild pitch to extend Clemson's lead. Minished closed out the run-rule with a double into left center to plate both Collins and Ariail for the 10-1 victory. Today’s game marked the 61st run-rule victory in program history.
In the circle, Cintron faced 19 batters and only allowed four hits in her five innings of work. Graduate Brook Melnychuk pitched faced four batters after entering in the sixth inning in her program debut.
Up Next
The Tigers conclude weekend action on Sunday, February 9 at 11:30 a.m. against Missouri State. Fans can listen to all the action on WCCP, online or on the Clemson Tigers App, and watch the action live on FloCollege.