Game stories are not the norm at JWOS, but Clemson’s victory over Georgia on Wednesday deserves to be an exception to that rule. The Tigers took the win in a 4-1 final score over the Bulldogs, recording the first victory over a ranked opponent in program history.
Not only the first win over a ranked opponent, the victory was also the Tigers’ first over an SEC foe. After opening the season 0-2 against Power Five teams, the Tigers are now on a 5-game winning streak against such opponents, following a 4-0 showing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and Wednesday night’s victory.
Freshman Valerie Cagle was positively stellar in the circle for the Tigers, throwing a complete game while allowing just three hits and one unearned run. Cagle, who moved to 6-6 on the season with the victory, also batted for herself in the game and recorded one of her team’s eight base hits on offense. After the game, the first-year right-hander said she didn’t feel added pressure when pitching against a ranked opponent like Georgia, adding, “Going against an opponent like that, I actually get more competitive and more excited.”
Speaking to what was working for her in the circle, Cagle listed four things that she felt were “on” during her outing on Wednesday: Pitch location; mixing speeds; hitting spots; and keeping the Georgia offense ‘on their toes’. “I just had to stay within myself and try not to overthrow,” she said following the game.
The Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and lacing together a trio of RBI singles. Though the Tigers couldn’t add to their lead through the remaining innings, Cagle’s dominance in the circle held the lead for her team for good. It was senior MK Bonamy’s RBI single in that same fourth inning that brought home what ultimately would be the game-winning run; after the game, she noted, “I really think we were leaning on each other, and we really had that mojo going.”
Head coach John Rittman touted Cagle’s performance after the game, speaking highly of the freshman’s ability to make adjustments to keep Georgia’s offense off-balance. As to his team’s youth and blossoming experience, Rittman said, “With a young ballclub, we’re learning as we go and we’re getting better, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”
Perhaps most importantly, the win gives the Tigers at least a potential path to postseason contention; though the path to that point is by no means an easy one, even having the postseason as a potential alternative at this point in their inaugural season is a significant feather in the program’s cap.
