AUSTIN, TX - The Tigers remain perfect in post-season play, 7-0 including the ACC Tournament, and are one win away from their first-ever trip to the College World Series!
After an hour and a half lightning delay just one batter into the game, the Longhorns jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st thanks to a mental error. The runner scored all the way from 1st on a bunt when the throw inexplicably popped out of Knowler's glove into foul territory. ACC Pitcher of the Year Reese Basinger, who had short outings in the first two games of the regional, loaded the bases with 2 outs in the 2nd, but she got a grounder to strand them loaded.
The Tigers' offense got going in the 3rd. Alex Brown hit her second straight leadoff single, and Moore singled to give them runners at the corners. Cintron reached on an error and tied the game 1-1, and another error gave the Tigers bases loaded with one out for red-hot freshman Marian Collins, who was 8-9 in the regional. She delivered once again, hitting a double to give the Tigers their first lead, 3-1. Unfortunately, Pipkins was twice just inches from driving in a couple more runs with fouls down each line, and the Tigers stranded runners at 2nd and 3rd.
Reese gave up a leadoff HR in the bottom half to make it 3-2, and Reese got into more trouble in the bottom of the 5th. She gave up a leadoff single and a double to give the Horns 2nd and 3rd with no outs, and McCubbin came in from the pen. Just like all 3 games of the regional, McCubbin was sensational! She got an infield fly for the first out, and with bases loaded, the Tigers got a double play on a fly to center. Brockenbrough made an incredible throw to the plate to get the tagging runner from 3rd and end the inning!
After the scare, the Tigers extended their lead in the 6th. Johnson drew a leadoff walk, and Brockenbrough hit the pitcher for an infield single. Leadoff batter Alex Brown reached on a fielder's choice, her 4th straight time on base, to load the bases with no outs for Maddie Moore, who set a Clemson single-season RBI record this season. She delivered once again with a single to make it 4-2, and Knowler followed that with a double to make it 6-2, still with no outs! With one out, Captain Aby Vieira hit a hard grounder to 1st to make it 7-2, and that would be all the lead that McCubbin would need.
The Horns put together a 2-out rally after McCubbin retired the first couple batters in the bottom of the 6th, loading the bases. A 2-out single made it 7-4, but McCubbin got a fly to end the rally. She almost went 1-2-3 in the 7th, but a high throw from Brown at 3rd gave the Horns hope with 2 outs. However, McCubbin got a foul-out to Aby behind the plate to end the game!
The Tigers need to win just one of the next two games to advance to their first-ever College World Series in Oklahoma City. Post-game interviews are below!
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