Valerie Cagle late home run lifts Clemson past South Carolina

Clemson was down to its last strike Tuesday night at South Carolina, but as she has done so many times before, Valerie Cagle came through in the clutch.

Cagle hit a three-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning to lift the Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Gamecocks.

South Carolina led 2-1, before Cagle blasted a 1-2 pitch for an opposite-field home run to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

“What a battle,” Clemson coach John Rittman said. “Obviously Valerie (Cagle) delivered for us with the big three-run homer. Our team showed grit to come out of the rivalry game with the win.”

Cagle also pitched the final 1 2/3 innings of the game to earn the win and improve to 19-3 on the year.

The junior took over on the mound with one out in the sixth inning. After getting a double play to end the frame, she allowed a solo homer in the seventh, before shutting the door to end the game.

Millie Thompson got the start for the Tigers and allowed two runs in one inning of work.

Brooke McCubbin pitched well in relief, holding the Gamecocks scoreless for 4 1/3 innings before giving way to Cagle.

South Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Riley Blampied hit an RBI double and Aniyah Black had an RBI single.

The Tigers cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third on an RBI double by Carolina Jacobsen.

The score remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh when Cagle delivered the game-winning home run.

After a leadoff single by Ally Miklesh, South Carolina pitcher Donnie Gobourne then retired the next two batters. With two outs, McKenzie Clark walked, before Cagle homered to give Clemson the lead.

“Brooke McCubbin gave us her all in the circle today, giving us some crucial innings down the stretch. Caroline (Jacobsen) sparked us in the third with the RBI double and then delivered in the bottom of the sixth with a great defensive play, turning the double play,” Rittman said. “Our team continued to give us chances when Ally (Miklesh) led off with the single in the seventh, McKenzie (Clark) had a disciplined at bat to draw the walk.”

With the win, Clemson improves to 38-4. South Carolina falls to 27-12 with the loss.

Up next, the Tigers will face NC State in a three-game series on the road this weekend.