LOUISVILLE, Ky. (theACC.com) – Clemson infielder Cammy Pereira tied the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship record with two home runs in the top-seeded Tigers’ 2-0 win over No. 9 Georgia Tech in the first quarterfinal game of the 2021 ACC Softball Championship.
 
Georgia Tech (20-26) had a strong performance from Blake Nelemen in the circle but was unable to score. The freshman pitcher was coming off a no-hitter against Syracuse in the first round, and gave up just two runs on four hits in six innings.
 
Clemson’s (41-5) reigning ACC Player and Freshman of the Year Valerie Cagle shut out the Yellow Jackets, allowing only one hit and striking out 14 in seven innings.
 
Pereira put the Tigers on the board with a solo home run over the right center fence in the bottom of the second inning. The junior followed it up with another long ball to center field in the bottom of the sixth, becoming only the fifth player to hit two home runs in an ACC Championship game.
 
Georgia Tech loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, after Emma Kauf reached base on a fielder’s choice, Cameron Stanford singled through the right side and Tricia Awald was intentionally walked, but Cagle was able to get out of the jam by striking out the next batter.
 
Cagle was credited with her 25th win of the season moving her record to 25-4, and Nelemen was tagged with the loss, falling to 12-8.
 
Clemson advances to face the winner between No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 4 Virginia Tech in tomorrow’s 1 p.m. semifinal.
 
ACC fans will be able to watch all nine games of the ACC Championship. The first three rounds will be broadcast on ACC Network, and ESPN will carry the championship game.