Clemson uses late-game magic to advance to NCAA softball regional final
Clemson softball is advancing to the championship game of the NCAA regional after defeating Northwestern 1-0 on Saturday in nine innings.
The Tigers have positioned themselves in a nice spot, only needing one more win on Sunday to win the regional and advance to the Super Regional.
The Tigers will play Kentucky in the regional final. The Wildcats defeated Northwestern, 8-3, in an elimination game Saturday evening.
Against Northwestern, Clemson senior catcher Aby Vieria tripled down the first-base line. Marian Collins, freshman shortstop, dropped a bunt down that scored Vieria. It was the first run given up by Northwestern (29-19-1) in nearly 15 innings.
Vieira’s triple was the Tigers’ only extra-base hit of the game.
It was a slow start right from the first pitch of the game all the way into extras.
The first hit of the game, from either team, didn’t come until the third inning. Clemson junior center fielder Jamison Brockenbrough rejuvenated some energy into the crowd with her single.
Clemson’s Reese Basinger, the ACC Pitcher of the Year, didn’t have her best stuff in the afternoon. Basinger hit two Northwestern batters in the first and second innings but was able to rely on her defense to help her out.
Basinger allowed two hits and zero runs allowed in 3.1 innings. Clemson replaced her with fellow senior pitcher Brooke McCubbin, who earned her sixth straight win out of the bullpen.
“I thought Reese came out and did her job for about 3 innings,” Clemson coach Johns Rittman said. “But I know we had first and third with one out and we went to Brooke and she’s just been fabulous in relief for us.”
It looked like Clemson was finally going to get a run in the fifth inning, having two runners on first and second. But freshman right-fielder Taylor Pipkins lined into a triple-play.
“Hitting into a triple-play is a tough momentum killer, but it didn’t phase our team,” Rittman said. “We came back, we fought hard”.
Clemson also came up with some strong defense. Left fielder Kylee Johnson had an incredible catch. She robbed Northwestern’s Kaylie Avvisato of extra bases. Johnson jumped into the wall in left field in making the grab.
The Wildcats got everything they could from starting pitcher Lauren Boyd. She pitched all full nine innings, only allowing the one run of the game. Boyd threw 150 pitches, struck out nine and allowed one extra-base hit.
2025 Clemson softball regional schedule
All games at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson
Friday, May 16
Game 1: No. 3 Northwestern 4, No. 2 Kentucky 0
Game 2: No. 1 Clemson 10, No. 4 USC Upstate 2
Saturday, May 17
Game 3: No. 1 Clemson, No. 3 Northwestern 0 (9)
Game 4: No. 2 Kentucky 11, No. 4 USC Upstate 0
Game 5: No. 2 Kentucky 8, No. 3 Northwestern 3
Sunday, May 18
Game 6: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 2 Kentucky, 1 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Clemson vs. Kentucky, 3:30 p.m.
This story was originally published May 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM.