Kylee Johnson hits 2-run HR in 7th to lift Clemson past Florida St. 2-1 in ACC Softball Tournament Championship Game
BRIGHTON, Mass. (Clemson SID) – A seventh-inning two-run blast off the bat of sophomore Kylee Johnson secured the 2-1 victory against Florida State for the first ACC Championship title for the Clemson Tigers. The Tigers improved to 43-12 following the win, while the top-seeded Seminoles dropped to 46-9.
Senior Brooke McCubbin earned her 15th victory on the season and third of the ACC Tournament. Fellow senior Reese Basinger started the game and went the first three innings, striking out one and getting tagged for just one run. McCubbin came on in the fourth and pitched the final four frames, allowing only four hits. The Tiger pitching tandem stranded nine Seminoles and held Florida State 0-8 with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers looked to strike early with two singles and a walk that loaded the bases with two outs, but the Tigers were held scoreless. In the bottom, a fielding error and a bunt single put runners on first and second for the Seminoles with nobody out, but with two on, the Clemson defense stood tall. A grounder found its way to Alex Brown who stepped on third and threw across the diamond for a double play. Following the twin killing, a steal attempt was snuffed out by Aby Vieira who caught the runner at third to end the frame.
The Seminoles opened the scoring in the bottom of the third with a leadoff home run to center field. Basinger retired three of the next four Seminoles and the solo shot was the lone run of the inning and the afternoon for FSU.
McCubbin came on to relieve Basinger with one on and no outs in the fourth. She stranded two Seminoles on the bases to end the inning and kept them quiet the rest of the way.
In the top of the seventh, Marian Collins worked a walk and got on base to lead off the inning. With one out, Johnson unloaded on a 2-2 pitch to center field to score Collins and give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom, the first two Seminoles reached base, but McCubbin forced a deep flyout and froze the next batter to put the Tigers within one out of the title. On the first pitch of the at bat, the ball popped into center and fell harmlessly into the glove of Jamison Brockenbrough, and the party began in Brighton as the Tigers captured their first ACC Championship.
The Tigers landed four on the ACC Championship All-Tournament team with freshman Taylor Pipkins being named the Tournament MVP. Additional Tigers selected included: senior Aby Vieira, senior Maddie Moore and senior Brooke McCubbin.
Up Next
The ACC Champion Tigers await their NCAA postseason designation that will be determined on Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. during the NCAA Softball Championship Selection Special on ESPN2.
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