Clemson softball picked to host NCAA regional. See the opponents, schedule
Clemson softball’s NCAA Tournament path is set.
The Tigers are the No. 11 overall seed in the field and will host an NCAA regional at McWhorter Stadium starting on Friday, it was announced Sunday night.
Clemson is the No. 1 seed in its regional, which is double elimination, and will play No. 4 USC Upstate on Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
No. 2 Kentucky and No. 3 Northwestern will play earlier on Friday (2 p.m., ESPN+).
Clemson is paired with the Austin Regional, which features No. 6 Texas of the SEC. If both favorites advance, the Tigers would travel to Austin for a best-of-three super regional series against the Longhorns (46-10, 16-8 SEC) from May 22-25.
The Tigers finished the season 44-12 and 19-5 in ACC regular-season play. Clemson beat top-seeded Florida State 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in Brighton, Massachusetts, to win its first ever conference tournament championship.
This is Clemson’s fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and third time hosting a regional (2022, 2023). The Tigers advanced to the super regionals each of their past two times hosting but have never made the Women’s College World Series.
Coach John Rittman’s program has made the NCAA Tournament in each year of its existence and won 40-plus games in four of the past five seasons. (The 2020 tournament, during Clemson’s first season, was canceled because of COVID.)
“We played a very difficult schedule to get to this point, and our team has earned everything that that we got this year,” Rittman told reporters after Clemson’s watch party Sunday at McWhorter Stadium. “To be able to host a regional, like I said, is a great opportunity for our fans, our team and we’re looking forward to a great environment and a great weekend against some really tough competition.”
Rittman added that he felt like Clemson’s placement as the No. 11 overall seed was a fair outcome. Florida State, which Clemson beat head-to-head in Saturday’s ACC title game, was the No. 5 overall seed. The rest of the top 8 seeds were from the SEC.
“Considering we were on the on the bubble a week ago and and didn’t know if we’re going to host or not, to be the 11 seed, it’s a great accomplishment,” Rittman said.
2025 Clemson softball regional schedule
All games at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson
Friday, May 16
Game 1: No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Northwestern, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 USC Upstate, 4:30 p.m. (ACCN)
Saturday, May 17
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 18
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:30 p.m.
NCAA softball key dates
May 16-18: Regional round at campus sites
May 22-25: Super regional round at campus sites
May 29-June 5/6: Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City
This story was originally published May 11, 2025 at 7:29 PM.
