CLEMSON — With a massive win streak on the line, it wasn’t a question that the Clemson softball team would come out relentless.
The Tigers (13-6) took home their 10th straight win this season with a convincing 11-5 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers (12-4) at McWhorter Stadium in the Tiger Invitational.
After a calm first inning, Clemson scored seven runs within the second and third innings, with a three-run homer from second baseman Maddie Moore putting the Tigers in the lead, which stuck for the rest of the game.
The offense was hot, and the defense stayed consistent and dominant the whole way. After allowing one run in the second inning and two more in the third frame, the Tigers only gave up two runs in the rest of the game, overwhelming their opponent and pulling out the victory.
The game started with three quick outs for the Hoosiers and a run for the Tigers, where third baseman Alex Brown tagged up and ran home after a pop fly from left fielder Sam Minish — a quick start for Clemson to take the lead. Indiana quickly evened the game off a single for an RBI in the top of the second.
Clemson was determined to keep a lead, and Moore made it happen, hitting a 215-foot home run. With her big hit, she brought in two others to make it a 4-1 lead. Indiana countered with a few scores, keeping the bases loaded and bringing in two runs before striking out to switch sides of the field.
The Tigers put a hurting on the Hoosiers in the third inning, running scorers in off singles from Aby Vieira, Alex Brown, and Moore. With a five-run lead, the scores kept on coming, and Indiana began to feel the pressure. However, they couldn’t retaliate and came up empty in the following inning.
The next scores came in the fourth inning, where a double from Vieira brought Minish home for a run. After that, the Hoosiers brought in one more run and nothing more. Clemson earned two runs for itself off a double from Vieira and a sacrifice grounder from shortstop Marian Collins in the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh, Indiana center fielder Kinsey Mitchell hit a home run to add another score to her team’s total. It wasn’t enough, and after that, the Tigers closed the game after the top of the seventh.
Pitcher Reese Basinger earned the win for the Tigers, allowing eight hits in five innings and earning two strikeouts with a total of 114 pitches.
With the win, the Tigers will take on Indiana again, this time in the Tiger Invitational Championship, at noon on Sunday.