The Clemson softball team heads to South Carolina riding a 12-game winning streak and ranked No. 16 in the country after climbing two spots in the most recent NFCA Poll.
This will be the first time the rival schools do battle in softball.
Valerie Cagle, fresh off of pitching two no-hitters last week was named NFCA National Pitcher of the Week as well as ACC Pitcher of the Week.
She was also getting done at the plate last week, hitting .500, with 2 homeruns, 7 RBI, and 6 runs scored. She has quickly become one of the nation’s best two-way players and is only a redshirt freshman.
Press Release/CU Athletic Communications:
SERIES SETUP
- Who: Clemson (32-4, 22-4 ACC) at South Carolina (23-17, 2-13 SEC)
- NFCA/ESPN Ranking: CU – 16/16; SCar – NR
- When: Wednesday, April 21, 2021
- Where: Columbia, S.C. (Carolina Softball Stadium)
- Watch: SEC Network
- Video Announcers: Eric Brown (pbp) & Amanda Scarborough (color)
- Live Stats: ClemsonTigers.com
- Social Media: ClemsonSoftball
SERIES HISTORY
- Overall Record: 0-0 (2021)
ACC STANDINGS
- The Tigers are currently in second place in the ACC standings with a league record of 22-4 (.846).
- Clemson is second in the standings only to Florida State, the 2018 NCAA champions, which travel to Louisville this weekend.
CLEMSON OVERVIEW
- Clemson enters the weekend having won its last 12 games, all of which have been at McWhorter Stadium.
- Clemson leads the ACC in overall winning percentage (88.9%), good for fifth in the nation.
- This season, the Tigers are averaging 5.67 runs per game, while boasting a team ERA of 1.37.
THE NATIONALLY RANKED TIGERS
- Clemson enters Tuesday’s contest ranked No. 16 in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll and No. 16 in both the ESPN/USA Today Softball poll, its highest ranking to date.
- As a program, Clemson debuted at No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll on March 9, 2021.
- Clemson received its first top-25 ranking on March 1, 2021 at No. 25, according to D1Softball.com.
VALERIE CAGLE, THE NATION’S BEST TWO-WAY PLAYER?
- Clemson second-year freshman ace Valerie Cagle has established herself as one of the best two-way players in the nation.
- As Clemson’s ace and three-hole hitter, Cagle leads the Tigers in batting average (.387), slugging (.730), on-base percentage (.460), doubles (9), walks (15), ERA (0.89), wins (20), saves (4), innings pitched (141.1), batters struck out (166), appearances (27) and games started (21) this season.
- According to Softball America, Cagle was tabbed the No. 7 pitcher in the country during the month of March. Of the top-10 pitchers ranked, Cagle is only player that consistently hits, nonetheless one of the best hitters in their respective conference and perhaps the nation.
- Cagle is also riding a 12-game hit streak, dating back to March 27 when the Tigers snapped Duke’s then 20-game win streak. Cagle’s hit streak mirrors Clemson’s current 12-game winning streak, which also began March 27.
CAGLE SWEEPS NFCA, ACC PITCHER-OF-THE-WEEK HONORS
- RHP/UTL Valerie Cagle was named both NFCA and ACC Pitcher of the Week on April 20.
- Cagle is the only player in the nation this season to garner both NFCA Player (March 23) and Pitcher-of-the-Week honors this season.
- She is also the only player to earn ACC Player (March 24) and Pitcher-of-the-Week honors (April 7 & 20).
CAGLE’S FIRST CAREER COMPLETE-GAME NO-HITTER
- Clemson ace Valerie Cagle pitched her first career complete-game no-hitter in the Tigers’ first of two games against Winthrop on April 13.
- The second-year freshman pitched in all five innings, faced just two batters above the minimum and registered at least two strikeouts in each inning, finishing the game with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
- Cagle also went 2-for-2 at the plate with one RBI and one walk.
FIVE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
- Clemson is 39-0 all-time, and 22-0 in 2021, when scoring five runs or more.
SWUNG ON AND THERE IT GOES!
- Clemson is 25-0 this season when hitting at least one home run.
- The Tigers are 41-2 all-time when homering at least once.
- Clemson has recorded multi-home-run efforts in 14 out of its 36 games played so far this season.
