CLEMSON — It was not Valerie Cagle’s day in Game 6 of the Clemson Regional Sunday at McWhorter Stadium.
Clemson’s ace, who one-hit No. 2 seed Auburn in a complete-game shutout on Saturday, gave up three runs on four hits in three innings of work, including a three-run home run to Bri Ellis in the bottom of the first inning. The end result was a 5-2 loss to the SEC’s Tigers.
Auburn’s victory over the top-seeded Clemson Tigers forced a winner-take-all championship game for later this afternoon. Cagle, who had a 1.15 ERA in coming in, fell to 24-6 on the season. Auburn’s Maddie Penta improved to 26-6 with the win.
Auburn (43-18) grabbed a quick lead on Clemson in the first inning on Ellis’ three-run blast to centerfield in the bottom of the first inning.
Clemson (48-10) tried to rally when Alia Logoleo hit a solo home run to right field. But Auburn got back the run and grabbed a 4-1 lead after Nelia Peralta doubled with two outs down the leftfield line to score Skylar Elkins.
Regan Spencer, who came on in relief to start the fourth for Clemson, was charged with the run. She pitched just the fourth, as she gave up two hits to go along with the one earned run. Millie Thompson and Brooke McCubbin closed out the game for Clemson in the circle.
The Tigers of Clemson had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the top of the fifth inning after they loaded the bases with two outs on Auburn’s ace. However, all they could get across the plate was a Caroline Jacobsen walk to score pinch runner Oda Arielle, cutting the Auburn lead to 4-2. Logoleo worked a 3-0 count on Penta, but the Auburn pitcher fought back with three clean pitches, including a rise ball that Logoleo chased for the third strike and the final out of the inning.
Auburn added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 5-2.
The winner of Game 7 will move on to the NCAA Super Regional Round. Game 7 will start at 3 p.m.
Stat of the Game: Clemson loss to Auburn marked just the third time Clemson has lost to a non-top 15 team at McWhorter Stadium. It was also the Clemson Tigers first loss in a home regional games. They were 5-0 previous to the Game 6 loss.
Player of the Game: Auburn pitcher Maddie Penta went the distance for Auburn. She tallied seven strikeouts, while giving up two runs on six hits. She threw 139 pitches.
Key Moment: The Tigers of Clemson had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the top of the fifth inning after they loaded the bases with two outs on Auburn’s ace. However, all they could get across the plate was a Caroline Jacobsen walk to score pinch runner Oda Arielle, cutting the Auburn lead to 4-2. Logoleo worked a 3-0 count on Penta, but the Auburn pitcher fought back with three clean pitches, including a rise ball that Logoleo chased for the third strike and the final out of the inning.
Up Next: The winner of Game 7 will move on to the NCAA Super Regional Round. Game 7 will start at 3 p.m.
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