Clemson softball no-hits UNCW to open Tigers’ inaugural NCAA home regional
Clemson wasted little time taking advantage of hosting its first NCAA softball regional.
The Tigers, the No. 10 overall seed in the NCAA field, scored six runs in the first inning on five hits in a 9-0 rout of UNC Wilmington on Friday at McWhorter Stadium. The game was called after four and a half innings due to the NCAA-sanctioned mercy rule.
They finished the afternoon with nine hits in Game 1 of the Clemson Regional to advance to Saturday’s winners bracket game against Auburn.
“I am really proud of the way we came out in that first inning,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said. “Obviously, Cammy (Pereira) with a great first at-bat. It was a two-strike battle and she punched one into left field. McKenzie (Clark) with the big double there. We got off to a great start.”
Everyone in Clemson’s lineup got on base at least once, except first-team All-ACC performer Valerie Cagle. She finished the day 0-for-3 with one strikeout.
Clemson (40-15) also got a great start from Millie Thompson in the circle. The sophomore no-hit the Seahawks in five scoreless innings of work.
“Millie did just an outstanding job in the circle,” Rittman said. “Any time you throw a no-hitter it is special, but to do it in the postseason, I think we will all remember that for the rest of our lives.”
Tigers come out on fire
UNC Wilmington came into Game 1 of the regional with the sixth-best earned-run average in the country. They are no longer sixth.
Clemson ran off Seahawks starter Emily Winstead with two outs in the first inning. She had a 1.66 ERA prior to giving up six runs on four hits in her regional debut.
Alia Logoleo had a two-run homer in the first inning with two outs for the Tigers, while Mackensie Clark had an RBI double and Aby Vieira brought home a run with a two-out single.
“Like coach said, after we got a few runs under our belt, it was a breath of relief after the first inning,” said Clark, who went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. “That first batter Millie faced, the girl swung and missed at the first changeup, and I just got chills going down my back thinking about it. But like coach said, it was a complete team effort — offensively and defensively — it was outstanding today.”
Alia Logoleo continues her hot streak
After hitting .600 with six hits, three home runs, five RBIs and four runs scored in last week’s ACC tournament, shortstop Alia Logoleo continued her hot streak on Friday.
In her first at-bat, she drove Winstead’s 1-2 offering with two outs down the left field line. The two-run homer gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead at the time in the bottom of the first. Logoleo recorded a third RBI in the bottom of the fourth to score Carlee Shannon on a fielder’s choice to short.
She finished the day 1-for-3.
Millie Thompson was almost perfect
Millie Thompson threw a no-hitter, but she was close to throwing a perfect game. The only flaws were two hit batters.
The lefty faced 16 batters overall. She fanned four of them and did not give up a walk.
“I was working on things, as well. I was working on going in,” Thompson said about hitting the two batters. “I know I have to throw in and out against Auburn and Louisiana. I just wanted to work on that, but unfortunately, I hit a few people. But it will prepare me for the next day.”
Thompson improved her record to 14-3 in the circle and now has a 1.62 ERA this season.
This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Clemson softball no-hits UNCW to open Tigers’ inaugural NCAA home regional."