AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 11 Clemson Softball team continued its historic run, taking game one of the best-of-three Super Regional at No. 6 Texas (49-11) by a 7-4 score. It was the first Super Regional victory for the young Clemson (48-12) program, and it came at nearly 1:30 a.m. ET on May 23. The game started at 9 p.m. ET on May 22, but after just four pitches went into a nearly 90-minute weather delay.
Leadoff hitter Alex Brown led the Tigers with three hits and Maddie Moore added two hits and an RBI, and each scored two runs. Julia Knowler picked up a critical two-run double in the sixth inning to help give Clemson a cushion, and Brooke McCubbin was able to work the final 3.0 innings in relief of Reese Basinger, who improved to 18-5 on the season. It was McCubbin’s fifth save of the season, which tied Clemson’s single season saves record.
After Brown started the Tigers off with a single into left field, Clemson and Texas entered into a lightning delay. After returning, Clemson battled to two full counts, but Texas’ defense forced Brown to stay stranded off two fly outs and a ground out. The Longhorns capitalized in the bottom half of the inning. After an out was reviewed and overturned, a bunt was hit back to Basinger and a fielding error by the Tigers allowed the original runner to take extra bases to make it 1-0 in Texas’ favor.
What a win for @clemsonsoftball
— Clemson Athletics (@ClemsonTigers) May 23, 2025
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Freshman Taylor Pipkins and sophomore Kylee Johnson both got aboard in the top of the second, but were left stranded. In similar fashion, the Longhorns loaded the bases with two outs but didn’t capitalize as a ground out ended the inning.
The Tigers answered in the top of the third with the top of the lineup back at the plate. Brown and Moore notched back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Brown came home on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Moore and Macey Cintron to be safe at first and second. Aby Vieira reached on a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases, and it was Marian Collins that delivered the clutch hit. The freshman drove the fourth pitch she saw into left field for a double that scored Moore and Kennedy Ariail, who was running for Cintron.
Texas hit a solo home run in the third to cut into the Tigers’ lead to make it 3-2. The Longhorns attempted to capitalize again in the fifth inning after loading the bases with one out, but the Tigers turned a double play as junior Jamison Brockenbrough caught a fly ball in center and completed the throw to Vieira at the plate to catch the runner sliding into home to keep Clemson’s advantage at one run.
Clemson opened the gap in the sixth after Johnson drew a leadoff walk, and Brockenbrough singled to the pitcher. Brown reached on a fielder’s choice that, after review, loaded the bases as Johnson was ruled safe at third. Moore ripped an RBI single through the left side, and Knowler added her 19th double of the year to extend Clemson’s lead to 6-2. Vieira tacked on an additional RBI with a ground out to first that scored Moore. Texas responded when the bases were loaded with a hit up the middle that scored two to make it 7-4 after six.
Brockenbrough walked in the top of the seventh but was left stranded to bring Clemson’s defense back out to the field. McCubbin retired the first two batters on back-to-back groundouts to third base. Mitchell reached on a throwing error, but Vieira caught a foul ball behind the plate to secure the first win.
