Here's your Clemson sports news roundup for Monday, February 17, 2024.
Clemson baseball off to a solid start in 2025
The Clemson baseball team began the 2025 season by facing three quality programs in the Shriner's Children's College Showdown in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers. Fortunately, the No. 8 Tigers were up to the task.
Friday, Clemson opened the season with a showdown against No. 13 Oklahoma State. In what was a back-and-forth contest, the Tigers rallied for a 6-5 victory.
Trailing 4-1 in the fifth inning, the Tigers plated two runs in that frame, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh to storm back. Then, the Clemson bullpen pitched two scoreless innings to close out the win.
Saturday, Clemson faced No. 12 Arizona, also out of the Big 12. This time no comeback was needed as the Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 first-inning lead on the way to a 16-5 win.
The event concluded Sunday with the Tigers taking on Ole Miss. Unfortunately, the Clemson pitching staff struggled against the Rebels allowing four homers in a 15-5 seven-inning defeat.
Next, the Tigers open a seven-game home stand with a game against Presbyterian on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. Eastern.
Clemson women's basketball throttles SMU
Sunday, the Clemson women's basketball team was also in Texas taking on SMU in Dallas. They too played well coming home with a 72-46 win.
The Tigers moved to 13-13 overall and 6-9 in ACC play. Loyal McQueen led the team with 21 points and eight assists as the Tigers secured their largest margin of victory in an ACC road game in six years.
This was the Tigers' second win in a row which had to feel good on the heels of a stretch of eight losses in nine games. Now, the Tigers prepare for a road game against Pitt on Sunday, February 23. That's part of a three-game set of road tilts prior to the regular-season finale at home against Virginia Tech on March 2.
Clemson softball stuggles in Florida
The Clemson softball team was in Florida this weekend for the Shriner's Children's Clearwater Invitational. Unfortunately, the event didn't go as planned for the Tigers who lost four of five games.
Thursday, Clemson fell to Missouri 10-6 and Auburn 6-3. Friday, the Tigers dropped games to Kentucky 7-6, and UCF 6-4 (in eight innings).
However, on Sunday, they wrapped up the weekend with an 11-3 six-inning victory over Ohio State. In that game, Clemson belted four homers including a three-run bomb by Julia Knowler to end the game via the run rule.
The Tigers now play their next 19 games at home. In fact, they won't leave Clemson again until March 19. Hopefully, that will allow the Tigers to get on a roll.