Clemson Softball wins four games after dropping the first two of the week

Clemson Softball doesn’t quite have the record fans expected at this point in the season, but there hasn’t been a game yet that they weren’t in.

The Tigers started in the mid-week against the Tennessee Volunteers, a Top-10 opponent. Clemson hung tough with the Vols and took the game to extra innings before conceding the winning run in the ninth inning. Tennessee left with a 2-1 victory. Following their weekend games, the Volunteers are on a 10-game win streak.

Clemson then hosted the Tiger Invitational, opening with a doubleheader against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday. Just like their doubleheader the previous weekend against NC State, the Tigers lost the first contest 5-3 (also in nine innings) but bounced back to win the second 3-1.

Clemson then ran the table for the weekend defeating Mercer, Longwood, and Fordham by a combined 28-3. The game against Longwood was a six-inning run-rule win.

Clemson fans might not be accustomed to the young program having six losses this early in the season, but there are mitigating factors. First, this is one of the strongest early-season schedules the Tigers have faced in their short history.

The Tigers have been competitive in the games they have lost. Their first two losses both came at the end of a preseason tournament, so it is fair to say endurance is an area for improvement. Recently, the Tigers have dropped the first game of a series or event, so playing well right out of the gate is another area the team can address.

Overall, Clemson has positioned themselves well as they begin this week, which will include their first ACC series of the season.

The Tigers start with a mid-week contest hosting Gardner-Webb and then welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels to McWhorter Stadium for a 3-game weekend series. The Tar Heels are 19-4 and just opened their ACC schedule with a 2-1 series win against Virginia.