In a thrilling display of offensive power and flawless pitching, the Clemson Tigers capped off an impressive 12-0 run-rule victory over the Furman Paladins on Tuesday evening at McWhorter Stadium. With the win, Clemson extended its current win streak to 12 games, improving its overall record to 15-6 on the season.
It was a complete team effort for the Tigers, who saw 11 players contribute at least one hit in the contest. The offensive onslaught was highlighted by home runs from senior Haylee Whitesides and freshman Marian Collins, both of whom showcased their incredible power at the plate.
The game got off to a fast start, with the Tigers taking advantage of two early walks in the bottom of the first. Freshman Sam Minish, stepping to the plate with two outs, blasted a double into the right-center gap to score Julia Knowler, putting Clemson on the board with a 2-out RBI and giving Minish her sixth RBI of the year.
Despite threatening in the second inning, Furman’s chances were quickly extinguished by Tigers’ relief pitcher Reese Basinger. After the Paladins loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks, Basinger entered the game and delivered a clutch strikeout to escape the jam. The senior right-hander would go on to retire every batter she faced, earning her fifth win of the season in 3.1 perfect innings of relief.
Clemson would go on to build on its early lead in the bottom of the second. After singles from Marian Collins and Jamison Brockenbrough, Alex Brown delivered with a clutch double to left-center, scoring Brockenbrough and advancing Collins to third. Maddie Moore’s groundout brought Brockenbrough home, and Knowler legged out an infield single to shortstop to drive in Brown. With that RBI, Knowler notched her 31st of the season, tying a school record for most RBIs in consecutive games alongside former Tigers greats Ainsley Gilstrap and McKenzie Clark.
By the third inning, the Tigers had firmly taken control. After a well-placed bunt single from Ava Wilson, a subsequent stolen base from Aby Vieira, and an intentional walk to Collins, the freshman stepped into the batter’s box with two runners in scoring position. With a 3-2 count, Collins crushed a three-run home run to the berm in right-center, her third of the season, pushing the Tigers to a commanding 9-0 lead. Brockenbrough would later score on a defensive miscue, and after plating five runs in the third, Clemson was up 9-0.
In the fourth, the Tigers made strategic lineup changes, but the offensive fireworks continued. Riley Fennell led off the inning with a double, and after advancing to third on a groundout, scored on a wild pitch. Whitesides then added to the Tigers’ cushion with a towering 238-foot home run to right field, the first of her career. That extended Clemson’s lead to 12-0, and it proved to be more than enough.
Basinger returned to the circle in the fifth and, needing just nine pitches, quickly retired the Paladins in order to end the game early, securing the Tigers’ fifth run-rule victory of the season.
Statistical Highlights:
- Clemson’s offense: 12 runs on 14 hits, with 11 players recording at least one hit.
- Haylee Whitesides: 1-for-2 with a home run, 2 RBIs.
- Marian Collins: 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 RBIs.
- Sam Minish: 1-for-3 with a double, 1 RBI.
- Reese Basinger: 3.1 perfect innings of relief, 5 strikeouts, 1 win.
- Julia Knowler: 1-for-3 with an RBI, 31st of the season (school record-tying).
Up Next for the Tigers: Clemson will continue its home stretch with a doubleheader against Charleston Southern on Wednesday, March 5. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on ACCNX, with the second game to follow at 5 p.m. or approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. Fans are encouraged to come out to McWhorter Stadium and support the Tigers in what promises to be another exciting set of matchups.
As Clemson keeps firing on all cylinders, their next challenge will be maintaining their momentum as they head into the heart of their season. With a potent offense and a dominant pitching staff, the Tigers are certainly a force to be reckoned with in the 2025 season.
