A cold and cloudy day turned into a beautiful and sunny afternoon for the Clemson Softball Orange and Purple Scrimmage. Despite the score (a 15-3 Orange team drubbing), the crowd was active (and early – collecting home run balls from batting practice ahead of first pitch), and the new Tiger talent was on display at McWhorter Stadium.
Watching @clemsonsoftball is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! 🧡🥎 pic.twitter.com/GJ7jpbWhyb
— Clemson Athletics (@ClemsonTigers) February 2, 2025
Game Highlights
After an evenly split team was announced to the home Tiger faithful, Macey Cintron, the freshman right-handed pitcher from Cumming, Georgia would take the mound for the first time for Clemson on the Purple team. Her specialty is the combination of a fastball in the high 60s and a changeup to keep hitters off-balance. It’s not quite the patented Millie Thompson changeup, but Cintron’s does come out of her hand the same way the fastball does. It showed well today at the pleasure of the home crowd.
Cintron’s day wouldn’t be an easy one, however, as the Orange team would get after her early and often. Alex Brown, back in the leadoff spot this year (as well as moved back to third base with the departure of Alia Logoleo), hoofed out a single to beat the throw from California freshman Madi Lardizabal playing shortstop for the Purple team. Despite a good throw down from Purple catcher Aby Viera, Brown got into the bag at 2nd for her first of many steals this season. Julia Knowler would draw a walk, and the freshman Marian Collins would step into the three-hole and blast a 3-run home run over the right field wall. With no outs, the Orange would already be up 3-0. Cintron would eventually close the frame with a strikeout of fellow freshman Riley Fennell.
It’d be a familiar face in the circle for the Orange team to start the scrimmage, with senior right-hander Brooke McCubbin. She’d start off slow, giving up three singles – one RBI by team captain Maddie Moore. After more movement around the bases, Viera would bring in a sacrifice RBI. To end the first inning, McCubbin would get Abi Stuart swinging as she’d start to settle in. Moore would be left stranded on third for the Purple squad, however – a sight Clemson fans know all too well from the 2024 season.
Other Game Notes
Freshman Taylor Pipkins (Cumming, Georgia) also had a big day, starting with a double that would lead to an eventual Knowler 2-run homer over a leaping Jamison Brockenbrough (Junior transfer from Tennessee) over center. Not long after would Jadeyn Ruszkowski hit a 3-run home run of her own, making it 8-2 in the second inning and effectively ending Cintron’s day in the circle.
The Orange team showed great defensive presence in the third, getting three straight outs on fielder’s choices facing loaded bases and no outs. The camaraderie of the defense will be vital for the 2025 team, as last year’s Tigers led the ACC in errors.
Purple would then hand the ball to the other right-handed Brook(e) in Brook Melynchuk, a graduate transfer from Louisiana Tech. She’d take the first pitch from a hard line drive to the shin, however, and her debut would be cut short very quickly. She’d be helped gingerly to the locker room. Brook emerged from the dugout at the end of the game in a lower-leg brace, taking in hugs from teammates and coaches on what appears to be a long-term injury. An all-around tough situation for the graduate.
With McCubbin now in to pitch for Purple, Orange would move to the Winthrop transfer Reese Basinger. Tiger fans will remember Reese from her striking out Clemson batters left and right in games against them over her career. She’d start against her fellow pitcher Cintron, where Macey would stand in and take a well-earned walk – despite Basinger showing off the heater. Viera would hit into a double play, aided by a runner interference by Cintron. Basinger would get a strikeout to end the third inning, showing great promise in her new orange threads.
No other scoring would occur until the top of the seventh, where Brown would drive in Pipkins after Taylor’s second double of the day – this time on talented left-handed sophomore pitcher Olivia Duncan. While her fastball is lethal, it can get to looking very pretty to hitters over time. Knowler would drive in Brown off of Duncan, and then Collins would hit a triple to clear the bases and send Knowler home to give the Orange side a commanding 12-3 lead. Orange catcher and freshman Sam Minish (Hull, Georgia) would then drive in Collins with a double of her own. Ruszkowski would hit yet another home run on the day, driving in two more runs, and end the game a frame early.
Clemson loves @clemsonsoftball 🧡 pic.twitter.com/cPEMAHNVm7
— Clemson Athletics (@ClemsonTigers) February 2, 2025
Players of the Game
Jaedyn Ruszkowski (2 HR, 5 RBI)
Taylor Pipkins (2 2B, 3 R)
Marian Collins (HR, 3B, 4 RBI)
Brooke McCubbin (5 IP, 3 ER)
Reese Basinger (3 IP, 1 ER)
Players to Watch in 2025
Reese Basinger: The Winthrop transfer’s arm will be essential to back up McCubbin in this new-look pitching staff. The speed and placement of her fastball will result in a lot of strikeouts during her graduate season.
Macey Cintron: The utility player (albeit in the tough role of replacing Valerie Cagle in the circle and at first base) brings a lot of promising qualities to the Clemson Softball program. If she can give solid outings in the circle when called upon, look out.
Marian Collins: The freshman lived up to her top 100 freshman in the country billing today. Her first at-bat being a 3-run home run was an extremely exciting thing to see, as her confidence will continue to skyrocket with every at bat against real competition.
Taylor Pipkins: Pipkins gives John Rittman and staff a unique look at shortstop, anchoring an extremely important position for the Tiger infield this season. The time she takes to develop will be a key thing to monitor in 2025. The sky could be the limit for Taylor.
Jaedyn Ruszkowski: What’s not to love about Ruszkowski’s bat? Two homers against teammates she has been practicing against all off-season is one thing, but to see her power grow since her freshman spotlight against Oklahoma two years ago to hitting in key moments for the team in 2024, Ruszkowski will bring much-needed depth to the Tiger lineup replacing lots of production.
Brook Melynchuk: The health of the LA Tech transfer will be paramount to keep an eye on. While extremely productive for the Bulldogs last year, the Tigers will need her healthy to keep the depth of the pitching rotation formidable going into a long softball season.

After the Game
Kyle Jamieson, on the new-look pitching staff:
- Rotation will be an “experiment”
- Florida tournaments will be “a challenge”
- Sophomore lefty Olivia Duncan will look to get more consistent
- Basinger giving (the Tigers) something great this year (and gave (us) plenty of trouble in the past, too)
Julia Knowler, on her health this year:
- Excited for a new year
- Had a lot of fun today
- (Most excited for) a fully healthy year this year
Taylor Pipkins, on her first time on the field as a Tiger:
- So much fun playing
- Grateful to have such a big first day
- Took extra time to greet fans and sign autographs for the next generation of players
Season Outlook
Consistency in the circle will make or break the 2025 season for the Tigers this year. While coach John Rittman believes the hitting only got better last year because of the competition they faced, the “Bring it On” mantra will be put to the test early in the opening season tournaments over the next two weeks. Despite being ranked #25 nationally but only picked to finish 7th in the ACC this season, this saying will help the team, and the fans, have great fun this season – bringing the competition to their opponents with every pitch.
The Tigers will start on February 6th, at 11am in Boca Raton Florida for the Paradise Classic against Ole Miss. Head back to McWhorter Stadium on February 11th for the home opener against Furman at 6pm.
The best fans in the country!
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 2, 2025
Thank you all for joining us for today’s Orange vs. Purple scrimmage. We can’t wait to see you all back at McWhorter Stadium for our home opener on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. pic.twitter.com/sid0mUbAid