Despite a fantastic showing by their new transfers and freshman, Clemson Softball would lose the opening game of the 2025 season 3-2 in the first game of the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Florida – without the noticeably absent All-American second baseman and team leader Maddie Moore.
Tiger freshman Macey Cintron showed off immense talent in her debut, reaching base on all three of her at-bats (1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 1B, 1 BB) and giving Clemson their only score of the game: a 2-run home run early in the second inning. Reese Basinger (transfer, Winthrop) would pitch a complete game (6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 3 K), keeping the Ole Miss batters off-balance for five of her six innings. The fourth inning would be her weakness, at she’d give up a 3-run home run to Rebel pitch-hitter Persy Llamas, which would end up being the difference.
Game Highlights
Sporting their trendy grey uniforms, Clemson Softball would be the designated visitors for this opening tournament match. All-American Aliyah Binford would start the season pitching for Ole Miss, but Alex Brown (3b) would leadoff with a single, and then immediately steal on the first pitch to Jamison Brockenbrough (CF). After a ground out to short, Julia Knowler (1b) and Kylee Johnson (LF) would pop out and leave Brown stranded. Basinger would take to the circle to open the season for the Tigers. She’d work quickly to get the first two batters out on ground balls. The next batter would get a blooper to drop over the head of replacement second baseman and freshman Taylor Pipkins for the first hit of the game for the Rebels. Pipkins would make up for it by catching an infield popup and ending the inning.
Freshman shortstop Marian Collins would start the second by taking a four-pitch walk. Veteran catcher Aby Viera would then lay down a beautiful bunt to move Collins on the sacrifice. Designated player Cintron would then capitalize, hitting a deep shot over the left center field wall for her first home run of her career on her first ever collegiate at-bat. The lead would be 2-0 Tigers early.
In the fourth inning, Collins would hit a ball into left field to get back on base for the top of the fourth, but Viera would pop out to shallow right. Cintron would then get a chance to follow up on her home run, where she’d hit a high bouncer and both her and Collins would be safe at first and second. This would chase Binford (3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB) as Ole Miss would then give the ball to Miali Guachino (3.2 IP, 0 H, 5 K). She’d strike out Minish on three pitches, the first recorded strikeout of the game. Pipkins would draw a walk and “put the heat on” for Alex Brown. She’d pop out, however, and the runners would be left in scoring position. They’d leave six on over seven innings.
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Basinger would start her half of the fourth with a strikeout of her own, but this is where Reese would start to slow down. A hard hit ball to Brown would be too much to handle and the throw to first would be late. After an out and then a hit batter, there would be two on for Llamas, who would slam a ball deep to right and give the Rebels a 3-2 lead. A flyout would stop the bleeding.
Pipkins would pop out to the catcher on the first pitch of the seventh inning, handing the bat to leader Brown at the top of the order. She’d strike out, however, leaving two outs and the game for Brockenbrough. She’d strike out as well, and the Tigers would drop game one.
Next Up
Game two of the Paradise Classic for Clemson will be around 1:45pm, where they will match up with the Kansas Jayhawks for the first time in program history.
