CLEMSON– The No. 21 Clemson Tigers left 12 of their own stranded, but allowed only three Winthrop players to reach base in a 4-1 Clemson victory over the Eagles at McWhorter Stadium Wednesday night.

Though Clemson recorded eight hits and drew seven walks to the Eagles’ one in each category through five innings, the Tigers struggled to capitalize on opportunity and Winthrop refused to bow down.

However, Clemson starting pitcher Macey Cintron, a righty two-way player, proved unhittable, and allowed the Tigers to hold a lead until the offense could put up a two-run sixth inning to shut the Eagles’ window of opportunity.

Cintron, a freshman, allowed just two hits, one run, and one walk in a full seven innings in the circle. She was also responsible for ten strikeouts, tying her collegiate career high.

“I loved the way (Cintron) pitched tonight, competed,” head coach John Rittman said. “She’s such a competitor.”

Third baseman Alex Brown did not wait long to get the Tigers’ (31-11) offense started. In the first Clemson at-bat of the day, the senior launched a full-count single to right field. Second baseman Maddie Moore and Cintron both drew walks to load the bases and catcher Aby Viera grounded out to first base to knock Brown in for a Clemson run.

In the second inning, left fielder Kylee Johnson similarly singled on a bunt and reached second on an error from Winthrop’s first baseman. One batter later, center fielder Jamison Brockenbrough drew a walk and stole second base, pushing Johnson to third.

Back to the top of the order, Brown grounded out to second base, but scored Johnson for the second run of the day.

Brown finished her day 2-of-3 with an RBI. She holds the Tigers’ second-highest batting average of a .431, only bested by Moore who has a .454 average across 42 games played.

The Tigers found themselves in a scoring hiatus for three innings, though they left seven stranded across the third, fourth, and fifth innings, including a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fourth, Brown and Moore both singled, and Cintron drew a walk, but no Tigers could come up with a clutch hit to knock in more runs.

Johnson, the sophomore outfielder, sparked the Tigers’ offense again in the bottom of the fifth inning with a double blasted against the center field wall. Right fielder Taylor Pipkins bulleted a single to the Eagles’ shortstop to put another runner on. Johnson stole second and third, respectively, but a fly out stopped the Tigers short again.

The Eagles (21-18) got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, but the Tigers answered with a single from Moore, a double from first baseman Julia Knowler, and two runs of their own to secure a final 4-1 score. 

Up Next

The Tigers will look to win their fifth consecutive ACC series win this weekend as they head to Raleigh, N.C., to take on the NC State Wolfpack. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. on Friday at Dail Softball Stadium.

“NC State is a very good hitting team so they’re going to put some pressure on us,” Rittman said. “I think it’s just going to be putting the complete game together with the pitching, timely hitting, and defense.”