# 2022 Clemson Tigers softball team

The 2022 Clemson Tigers softball team was the varsity college softball team that represented Clemson University during the 2022 NCAA Division I softball season. This was the third season of Clemson's softball program. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by head coach John Rittman. Clemson played its home games at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
They finished the season 42–17 overall and 14–10 in ACC play to finish in fifth place. As the fifth seed in the ACC tournament, they earned a bye into the Quarter finals where they defeated fourth seed Notre Dame. In the Semifinals they defeated first seed Virginia Tech, but fell to third seed Florida State in the Final. This marked the back-to-back appearances in the Final of the ACC Tournament in the program's first two full seasons. The Tigers were selected, via at-large bid, as the tenth overall seed in the NCAA tournament. They hosted a regional and were placed into the Stillwater Super Regional. They defeated UNC Wilmington, Auburn, and Louisiana in their Regional to advance to face Oklahoma State in the Super Regional. Clemson lost both games in Stillwater to end their season.
The team was again led by Valerie Cagle, who finished the season with 16 wins, 13 home runs, and a .308 batting average. Cagle was named First Team All-ACC and to the NFCA All-American First Team. This marked her second year in a row as a First Team All-ACC player and Clemson's first First Team All-American. McKenzie Clark was named Second Team All-ACC, Alia Logoleo and Millie Thompson were named Third Team All-ACC and Aby Vieira was named to the All-Freshman Team.

## Previous season

The Tigers finished their first full season as a program 44–8 and 29–5 in ACC play to finish in first place and claim the regular season championship. As the first seed in the ACC tournament, they defeated Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech before losing to Duke in the Final. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and were placed into the Tuscaloosa Regional. There they defeated Troy twice, but lost to Alabama twice to end their season.

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Clemson win |
| | Clemson loss |
| | Cancellation |
| Bold | Clemson team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
| † | Make-Up Game |
2022 Clemson Tigers softball game log :
Regular season :
February (11–3) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | ACC record |
| Feb 10 | at Florida Gulf Coast* | No. 15 | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU Kickoff Classic) | W 11–0 (5) | Cagle (1–0) | Oakes (0–1) | None | 375 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Feb 11 | vs Kent State* | No. 15 | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU Kickoff Classic) | W 8–0 (5) | Spencer (1–0) | Lebeau (0–1) | None | 0 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Feb 11 | vs No. 10 Texas* | No. 15 | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU Kickoff Classic) | L 0–4 | Dolcini (1–0) | Cagle (1–1) | None | 200 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Feb 12 | vs LIU* | No. 15 | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU Kickoff Classic) | W 8–0 (6) | McCubbin (1–0) | O'Donnell (0–2) | None | 130 | 3–1 | 0–0 |
| Feb 13 | vs Boston College* | No. 15 | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU Kickoff Classic) | Canceled due to inclement weather | Canceled due to inclement weather | Canceled due to inclement weather | Canceled due to inclement weather | Canceled due to inclement weather | 3–1 | 0–0 |
| Feb 17 | vs Texas Tech* | No. 15 | Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational) | W 8–0 (5) | Cagle (2–1) | Morgan (0–2) | None | 330 | 4–1 | 0–0 |
| Feb 18 | vs No. 18 Tennessee* | No. 15 | Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational) | W 4–3 | Cagle (3–1) | Edmoundson (3–1) | None | 4,864 | 5–1 | 0–0 |
| Feb 19 | vs Northwestern* | No. 15 | Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational) | L 0–7 | Williams (4–0) | McCubbin (1–1) | None | 450 | 5–2 | 0–0 |
| Feb 19 | vs Wisconsin* | No. 15 | Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational) | L 1–2 | Schwartz (4–1) | Cagle (3–2) | None | 1,449 | 5–3 | 0–0 |
| Feb 20 | vs No. 6 Washington* | No. 15 | Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational) | W 2–0 | Cagle (4–2) | Plain (4–1) | None | 550 | 6–3 | 0–0 |
| Feb 23 | at Charlotte* | No. 14 | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC | W 5–2 | Thompson (1–0) | Walljasper (5–1) | Cagle (1) | 450 | 7–3 | 0–0 |
| Feb 25 | Boston University* | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) | W 8–0 (5) | Cagle (5–2) | Boaz (2–3) | None | 1,616 | 8–3 | 0–0 |
| Feb 25 | Saint Francis (PA)* | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) | W 2–0 | Spencer (2–0) | Marsden (4–2) | None | 1,616 | 9–3 | 0–0 |
| Feb 26 | Akron* | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) | W 10–5 | McCubbin (2–1) | Petrof (0–2) | Cagle (2) | 1,616 | 10–3 | 0–0 |
| Feb 26 | Boston University* | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) | W 7–3 | Thompson (2–0) | Lizzy (3–4) | None | 1,616 | 11–3 | 0–0 |
March (11–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | ACC record |
| Mar 1 | Gardner-Webb* | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 6–0 | Spencer (3–0) | Lyon (1–5) | None | 1,616 | 12–3 | 0–0 |
| Mar 4 | No. 6 Virginia Tech | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | L 1–6 | Rochard (7–2) | Cagle (5–3) | None | 1,616 | 12–4 | 0–1 |
| Mar 5 | No. 6 Virginia Tech | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | L 0–4 | Lemley (6–1) | Thompson (2–1) | None | 1,616 | 12–5 | 0–2 |
| Mar 6 | No. 6 Virginia Tech | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | L 2–4 | Rochard (8–2) | Cagle (5–4) | Lemley (1) | 1,616 | 12–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 9 | Mercer* | No. 17 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 3–0 | Thompson (3–1) | Pitts (1–8) | McCubbin (1) | 1,616 | 13–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 12 | Illinois* | No. 17 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 3–1 | Cagle (6–4) | McQueen (2–2) | None | 1,616 | 14–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 13 | Illinois* | No. 17 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 4–0 | Thompson (4–1) | Sickels (5–3) | None | 1,616 | 15–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 13 | Liberty* | No. 17 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 5–4 (8) | McCubbin (3–1) | Keeney (8–5) | None | 1,616 | 16–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 14 | Liberty* | No. 17 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 1–0 (8) | Cagle (7–4) | Kirby (1–3) | None | 1,616 | 17–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 16 | Winthrop* | No. 17 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 8–0 (5) | McCubbin (4–1) | Basinger (3–5) | None | 1,616 | 18–6 | 0–3 |
| Mar 18 | at No. 13 Duke | No. 17 | Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC | L 2–6 | St. George (12–1) | Cagle (7–5) | None | 585 | 18–7 | 0–4 |
| Mar 19 | at No. 13 Duke | No. 17 | Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC | W 10–2 (5) | Thompson (5–1) | Wright (4–1) | None | 534 | 19–7 | 1–4 |
| Mar 20 | at No. 13 Duke | No. 17 | Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC | L 1–7 | St. George (13–1) | McCubbin (4–2) | None | 589 | 19–8 | 1–5 |
| Mar 23 | at No. 17 Georgia* | No. 16 | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | L 2–3 | Kerpics (10–1) | Cagle (7–6) | None | 1,276 | 19–9 | 1–5 |
| Mar 25 | Louisville | No. 16 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 5–2 | Thompson (6–1) | Harris (6–5) | None | 1,616 | 20–9 | 2–5 |
| Mar 26 | Louisville | No. 16 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 8–0 (5) | Cagle (8–6) | Harris (6–6) | None | 1,616 | 21–9 | 3–5 |
| Mar 27 | Louisville | No. 16 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | L 2–4 (8) | Roby (8–4) | Cagle (8–7) | None | 1,616 | 21–10 | 3–6 |
| Mar 30 | South Carolina* | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Rivalry) | W 8–1 | Cagle (9–7) | Betenbaugh (4–4) | None | 1,616 | 22–10 | 3–6 |
April/May (15–4) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | ACC record |
| Apr 1 | at North Carolina | No. 18 | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC | W 12–4 | Cagle (10–7) | Backes (6–10) | None | 266 | 23–10 | 4–6 |
| Apr 2 | at North Carolina | No. 18 | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC | W 7–0 | Thompson (7–1) | George (10–3) | None | 417 | 24–10 | 5–6 |
| Apr 3 | at North Carolina | No. 18 | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC | W 12–4 (5) | Spencer (4–0) | Backes (6–11) | McCubbin (2) | 496 | 25–10 | 6–6 |
| Apr 6 | Furman* | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 3–2 | Cagle (11–7) | Tufts (5–9) | None | 1,616 | 26–10 | 6–6 |
| Apr 6 | Furman* | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 8–0 (5) | Thompson (8–1) | Scott (3–7) | None | 1,616 | 27–10 | 6–6 |
| Apr 8 | at Pittsburgh* | No. 18 | Petersen Sports Complex • Pittsburgh, PA | W 8–0 | Cagle (12–7) | Muraskin (4–8) | None | 497 | 28–10 | 7–6 |
| Apr 9 | at Pittsburgh* | No. 18 | Petersen Sports Complex • Pittsburgh, PA | W 8–6 | Spencer (5–0) | Drogemull (8–8) | None | 618 | 29–10 | 8–6 |
| Apr 10 | at Pittsburgh* | No. 18 | Petersen Sports Complex • Pittsburgh, PA | W 11–3 (5) | McCubbin (5–2) | Muraskin (4–9) | None | 795 | 30–10 | 9–6 |
| Apr 12 | at South Carolina* | No. 16 | Beckham Field • Columbia, SC (Rivalry) | W 3–1 | Thompson (9–1) | Powell (5–4) | Cagle (3) | 1,780 | 31–10 | 9–6 |
| Apr 14 | No. 23 Notre Dame | No. 16 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 3–2 | Cagle (13–7) | Tidd (12–4) | None | 1,616 | 32–10 | 10–6 |
| Apr 15 | No. 23 Notre Dame | No. 16 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | L 0–4 | Holloway (11–2) | Thompson (9–2) | None | 1,616 | 32–11 | 10–7 |
| Apr 16 | No. 23 Notre Dame | No. 16 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 2–1 | Spencer (6–0) | Becker (8–3) | None | 1,616 | 33–11 | 11–7 |
| Apr 21 | at No. 5 Florida State | No. 17 | JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL | L 4–5 | Watson (13–4) | Spencer (6–1) | None | 973 | 33–12 | 11–8 |
| Apr 22 | at No. 5 Florida State | No. 17 | JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL | L 6–7 | Watson (14–4) | Thompson (9–3) | Sandercock (3) | 1,285 | 33–13 | 11–9 |
| Apr 23 | at No. 5 Florida State | No. 17 | JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL | L 0–6 | Sandercock (23–1) | Spencer (6–2) | None | 1,573 | 33–14 | 11–10 |
| Apr 27 | East Tennessee State* | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 6–2 | Thompson (10–3) | Farr (4–15) | None | 1,616 | 34–14 | 11–10 |
| Apr 29 | Georgia Tech | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 4–1 | Thompson (11–3) | Dennis (16–5) | None | 1,616 | 35–14 | 12–10 |
| Apr 30 | Georgia Tech | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 3–0 | Cagle (14–7) | Neleman (13–7) | None | 1,616 | 36–14 | 13–10 |
| May 1 | Georgia Tech | No. 18 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 3–2 (8) | Thompson (12–3) | Neleman (13–8) | None | 1,616 | 37–14 | 14–10 |
Postseason :
ACC tournament (2–1) :
| Date | Seed | Rank | Opponent | Opponent Seed | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 12 | 5 | No. 15 | vs. No. 19 Notre Dame | 4 | Petersen Sports Complex • Pittsburgh, PA | W 7–3 | Thompson (13–3) | Holloway (14–3) | None | 546 | 38–14 | 1–0 |
| May 13 | 5 | No. 15 | vs. No. 2 Virginia Tech | 1 | Petersen Sports Complex • Pittsburgh, PA | W 4–1 | Cagle (15–7) | Lemley (15–6) | None | 667 | 39–14 | 2–0 |
| May 14 | 5 | No. 15 | vs. No. 3 Florida State | 3 | Petersen Sports Complex • Pittsburgh, PA | L 6–8 | Sandercock (29–1) | Cagle (15–8) | None | 667 | 39–15 | 2–1 |
NCAA Clemson Regional (3–0) :
| Date | Opponent Seed | Opponent | Seed | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | NCAA Clemson Regional Record |
| May 20 | 4 | UNC Wilimington | 1 | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 9–0 (5) | Thompson (14–3) | Winstead (13–9) | None | 1,760 | 40–15 | 1–0 |
| May 21 | 2 | No. 17 Auburn | 1 | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 1–0 | Cagle (16–8) | Penta (24–10) | None | 1,760 | 41–15 | 2–0 |
| May 22 | 3 | Louisiana | 1 | No. 14 | McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC | W 8–0 (5) | Thompson (15–3) | Schorman (17–6) | None | 1,760 | 42–15 | 3–0 |
NCAA Stillwater Super Regional (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent Seed | Opponent | Seed | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | NCAA Stillwater Super Regional Record |
| May 26 | 7 | No. 6 Oklahoma State | 10 | No. 14 | Cowgirl Stadium • Stillwater, OK | L 0–2 | Maxwell (19–4) | Thompson (15–4) | None | 1,068 | 42–16 | 0–1 |
| May 27 | 7 | No. 6 Oklahoma State | 10 | No. 14 | Stillwater, OK | L 1–5 | Day (13–4) | Cagle (16–9) | Maxwell (3) | 1,384 | 42–17 | 0–2 |
Note: All rankings shown are from the NFCA/USA Today poll.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| NFCA / USA Today | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 14* | 16 |
| Softball America | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| ESPN.com/USA Softball | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17т | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13* | 14 |
| D1Softball | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16* | 16* | 15 |
* Various polls did not release during the NCAA tournament. * indicates that the ranking is from pre-tournament for comparison purposes.