Clemson softball takes down Texas in super regional opener

After a delayed start Thursday night, No. 11 Clemson defeated No. 6 Texas 7-4 in game one of the Austin Super Regional in a late-night thriller. It was the Tigers’ first super regional win in their six-year program history.

The Tigers (48-12) earned their 22nd come-from-behind victory of the 2025 season after waiting an hour and 33 minutes for play to resume at Red & Charline McCombs Field due to several weather delays.

Texas’ (49-11) average margin of victory in their regional games was 9.6 runs. The Clemson defense held them to four runs on the night.

“You just never know how your team is going to respond in a hostile environment against a really good Texas team. I thought Reese (Basinger) was outstanding against their offense,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said.

Basinger (18-5) allowed six hits and two runs across four innings.

A four-run outburst in the top of the sixth inning was what the Tigers needed to put the game away.

Star senior second baseman Maddie Moore added a team-best 66th RBI after a single to left field that scored Kylee Johnson. Sophomore first baseman Julia Knowler then hit a two-run, stand-up double to extend the Tigers’ lead.

“We were prepared. There’s nothing that we haven’t seen or dealt with this season,” Moore said. “We are the Cardiac Kids. Everybody likes to call us that. We always seem to be down and come back.”

Texas sophomore outfielder Kayden Henry scored in the bottom of the first inning on a throwing error by Basinger. The Longhorns are now 37-2 on the season when scoring first.

Clemson freshman standout Marian Collins hit a deep two-run double to left field in the top of the third inning that broke a 1-1 tie.

Texas battled back in the sixth. Kayden Henry singled up the middle to score two more for the Longhorns and provide the game’s final margin.

Clemson is now one win away from a spot into the Women’s College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City.

Winners in the first game in a super regional go on to the WCWS 80% of the time. Game two of the Austin Super Regional will take place at 9 p.m. Friday.

“We know we’re going to have to bring our A-game,” Rittman said. “We are gonna have to play all-around softball to win a championship. Pitch well, play good defense, run the bases smartly and have to get timely hits. That’s the ingredients for success.”

Clemson-Texas softball super regional schedule

All times Eastern; all games at McCombs Field in Austin

• Game 1: Clemson 7, Texas 4
• Game 2: Friday, May 23 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2
• Game 3 (if necessary): Saturday, May 24 at 9 p.m. (channel TBD)

The winner of the Clemson-Texas super regional will advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. The WCWS runs May 29 to June 6.

This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 1:33 AM.