Clemson Tigers Softball Cruises Past Fordham in Dominant Midweek Victory

Coach John Rittman of the Clemson Tigers Softball team. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

Tigers Travel to the Bronx

The Clemson Tigers softball team traveled to the Bronx, New York, to take on Fordham in their first away game in quite some time. This midweek matchup served as a tune-up before they continue ACC play against Syracuse this weekend. Sporting their charcoal grey uniforms with "Clemson" in orange across the front, the Tigers made a statement with a dominant 14-1 mercy-rule victory at the Bahoshy Softball Complex.

Game Recap

Slow Start, Quick Response

Clemson's offense came alive early, despite a scoreless first inning in which Julia Knowler was the only Tiger to reach base via a walk. Fordham struck first in the bottom of the first with a solo home run from Sydney Wells, giving the Rams a brief 1-0 lead.

The Tigers wasted no time responding in the second inning, plating three runs on five hits. Aby Vieira got things started with a single up the middle, followed by clutch hitting from Marian Collins, Alex Brown, and Maddie Moore to bring home runs and give Clemson a 3-1 lead.

Third Inning Explosion

Macey Cintron, Clemson’s starting pitcher, kept Fordham in check with a flawless bottom of the second, retiring the side in order.

The third inning was an offensive explosion for the Tigers, as they erupted for eight runs on five hits. Key contributions came from Collins, Brown, Moore, and Knowler, while Vieira capped the rally with a two-run homer to right-center. By the end of the inning, Clemson had built a commanding 11-1 lead.

Tigers Close It Out

Head coach John Rittman began making substitutions in the fourth, bringing in pinch hitters while keeping the offensive pressure on. The Tigers tacked on another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth, including a two-run homer from Madi Lardizabal.

Lockdown Pitching

Macey Cintron pitched the first two innings, allowing just one run before turning the game over to the bullpen. Brooke McCubbin entered in the third, keeping Fordham scoreless despite allowing two hits. Olivia Duncan followed with a perfect fourth inning, striking out one. Brooke Melnychuk closed out the game in the fifth with another 1-2-3 inning, securing the mercy-rule victory for Clemson.

Up Next for Clemson Tigers Softball

After this dominant midweek win, Clemson remains in New York to face ACC opponent Syracuse in a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday at 3 p.m. inside Skytop Softball Stadium, with the action available for fans to watch on ACC Network Extra.