The 24th-ranked Clemson Tigers competed their three-game sweep of NC State Sunday thanks to an 8-3 victory at Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
The Tigers (34-11, 14-4 ACC) outscored NC State 33-16 during the three-game series. It marks the third time this season Clemson swept an ACC series. The Tigers also have won 14 of their last 16 league games.
Clemson’s bats took a little while to get going versus the Wolfpack on Sunday. But eventually the Tigers did get going. They collected nine hits and three home runs in the win.
Alex Brown (2-for-4) and Taylor Pipkins each smoked the ball for back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth. Pipkins finished the day with two RBIs. Jamison Brockenbrough and Aby Vieira picked up a pair of hits and an RBI each, as well.
Reese Bassinger held it down in the circle for the Tigers. She struck out four and allowed four hits during her five innings. Brooke McCubbin entered in the bottom of the sixth to close the game.
McCubbin allowed one hit through seven batters faced.
The Wolfpack (21-22, 4-14 ACC) struck early in the bottom of the first. Leadoff batter Michele Tarpey homered to left field to put NC State in the lead 1-0.
A hit-by-pitch and a walk allowed Pipkins to score Marian Collins on a sacrifice fly to right field, evening the score in the second.
In the top of the fourth inning, Pipkins smoked a ball over the head of left fielder, giving Clemson a 2-1 lead at the time. Coming off her 200th hit in Saturday’s win over State, Brown hit her second homer in as many days, improving the Tigers lead to 3-1.
NC State gained a run back in the bottom of the fourth with a shot by Kendall Simmers cutting Clemson’s lead down to one run.
The Wolfpack led the bottom of the fifth inning off with a double to right field by Taylor Ensley. Good baserunning and a single through the left side scored Ensley and tied the score 3-3.
Clemson, however, took control of the game in the top of the sixth inning.
A single to the right side by Brown put Pipkins in scoring position early in the top of the sixth. Brockenbrough reached base for the third time on a fielder’s choice and scored Pipkins. A throwing error allowed Brown to score and pushed the Tigers in front, 5-3.
A Vieira double cleared the bases and added two more runs to Clemson’s lead to finish off their sixth.
Kylee Johnson led off the top of the seventh with a shot to left field, improving the score to 8-3.
Up Next
Clemson takes on rival South Carolina, ranked No. 9, for the second time this season. The first pitch is slated for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at McWhorter Stadium.