Clemson opened its Atlantic Coast Conference softball schedule with a 9-4 win over Georgia Tech at McWhorter Stadium. The Tigers, ranked No. 25 and now holding a 15-7 overall record (1-0 ACC), overcame an early deficit after Georgia Tech took a 3-0 lead in the first inning with a bases-loaded double by Madi Duffel.
Clemson responded quickly in the bottom of the first. Kiley Channell drove in one run, followed by Mac Pavese’s two-run single, tying the game at three. Both teams then went scoreless for three innings as pitchers Madalyn Johnson for Georgia Tech and Sierra Maness for Clemson kept hitters in check.
The momentum shifted in the fifth inning when Georgia Tech’s pitching faltered. Makayla Coffield issued three walks and threw a wild pitch before being replaced by Katie Cunane, who also walked two batters without recording an out. Charlotte Smith was brought in next but walked two more batters, still without an out recorded. Clemson capitalized on these struggles, scoring five runs in the inning primarily through walks.
Clemson finished with nine runs on seven hits and ten walks. Marian Collins contributed two hits including a double, while Sarah Breaux reached base four times with one hit and two walks, scoring once. Corri Hicks added a double and an RBI as Clemson added another run in the sixth inning.
Pitcher Sierra Maness allowed ten hits but only gave up one earned run over seven innings pitched. She struck out five, walked two, and stranded eight Georgia Tech runners on base despite giving up three runs—two of which were unearned due to errors—in the first inning. Maness threw 126 pitches during her outing.
Georgia Tech entered ACC play with a 3-0 conference record prior to this game.
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