Tigers’ 19-Game Win Streak Snapped at Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Clemson Softball team’s 19-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Syracuse Orange (20-22, 12-19 ACC), who took the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader in walk-off fashion by a score of 7-6. The loss marked the first time the Tigers, now 39-5 overall and 28-5 in ACC play, have ever lost when scoring five or more runs, and dropped them to 41-1 all-time in such games. Game 1 Recap
Despite going 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and five RBI, starting pitcher Valerie Cagle (25-4) suffered just her fourth loss of the season. Syracuse pitcher Alexa Romero earned the win and moved to 8-9 on the campaign.
Clemson’s Marissa Guimbarda carried her momentum from game one into the first inning of game two, when her sacrifice fly plated McKenzie Clark for the first run of the game. Syracuse responded with a four-run second inning, but Cagle erased the Tigers’ deficit with one swing of the bat, a three-run shot to right field, which knotted the game at four apiece in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the frame, Syracuse regained the lead after a wild pitch allowed the Syracuse runner on third to score. However, Cagle once again refused to let the Orange lead stand, as she hit yet another homer, her 14th of the season, in the top of the fifth on a line drive over the left-center field wall.
After a scoreless sixth inning, two one-out singles set the stage for Cagle yet again, who yet again came through for the Tigers. Cagle sliced an RBI-single down the left-field line to score Clark and give Clemson a 6-5 lead.
Capitalizing on an infield hit, an error, and a fielder’s choice that did not result in a single out, the Orange loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cagle struck out the following batter, but Geana Torres’ single up the middle scored both the tying and winning runs as the Tigers lost their first game since March 26 against Duke.
Up next, the Tigers round out their 2021 regular-season campaign against Syracuse on Sunday at noon, which is slated to stream on ACCNX. A Clemson win or tie against the Orange on Sunday would clinch the ACC regular-season title for the Tigers as would a Florida State (38-9-1, 26-5-1 ACC) loss at Pitt in Sunday’s regular-season finale for the Seminoles.