CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers showcased their offensive firepower and defensive grit in a three-game sweep over the California Golden Bears this past weekend. The series, which featured strong performances from both sides, ended with the Tigers securing a 5-3 win, a 2-1 walk-off victory, and a 14-4 blowout, propelling them to an overall record of 28-10 (9-3 ACC). California, on the other hand, fell to 25-12 (6-6 ACC).
Game 1: Clemson 5, California 3
The Tigers kicked off the series in dramatic fashion on Friday night, as they rallied from an early deficit to secure a 5-3 victory. Despite falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Clemson responded in the third when sophomore Aby Vieira drove in senior Maddie Moore to tie the game at 1-1. This setup the pivotal fifth inning, where two freshman stars, Macey Cintron and Marian Collins, blasted back-to-back home runs to give the Tigers a commanding 5-1 lead.
Cintron’s three-run blast, her seventh of the season, was the highlight of the inning. The 243-foot bomb cleared the fence and brought home Moore and Julia Knowler, who had both singled. This was Cintron’s 29th RBI of the season, tying her for the third-most RBIs by a freshman in Clemson history. Just two batters later, Collins added a solo shot of her own, a 238-foot drive, that extended the lead to 5-1. Collins’ fifth homer of the year pushed her RBI count to 20.
California did not go quietly, managing to cut the lead to 5-3 in the top of the seventh with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly. However, with the bases loaded and only one out, relief pitcher Brooke McCubbin entered to shut the door on the Golden Bears. She needed just four pitches to close out the game and earn her second save of the season, preserving the win for starter Reese Basinger, who tallied her 11th victory of the season after 6.1 solid innings of work.
Game 2: Clemson 2, California 1 (Walk-Off)
The second game of the day turned into a tense pitcher’s duel between Clemson’s Brooke McCubbin and California’s Miranda De Nava. McCubbin, who had been stellar in relief the night before, kept the Golden Bears’ offense in check throughout the game, scattering six hits and striking out three. De Nava was equally effective, allowing nine hits but only one earned run as she struck out four Tigers.
California took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after a solo home run, and despite Clemson’s best efforts to respond, the Tigers couldn’t crack De Nava’s pitching until the final inning. McCubbin also kept the Tigers in the game with timely defensive plays. A stellar double play in the sixth inning, executed by freshman Marian Collins and sophomore Julia Knowler, kept the Golden Bears from extending their lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Clemson mounted a late rally, beginning with singles from Taylor Brockenbrough and Valerie Brown. After Knowler walked to load the bases, it was Macey Cintron who delivered the game-winning blow—a two-RBI single into deep right field that scored Brockenbrough and Brown, securing the 2-1 walk-off win. The Tigers’ defensive excellence and resilience at the plate were key in this hard-fought victory.
Game 3: Clemson 14, California 4 (Run-Rule)
Clemson’s offense exploded in the third game, producing a remarkable 10 runs in the first inning alone, which was enough to ensure a 14-4 run-rule victory. The Tigers tallied seven hits in the first inning, with home runs from Vieira, Knowler, and Moore, and a number of key singles to push the lead to an insurmountable 10-0.
Brown led off the first inning with a double, and the Tigers capitalized on California’s mistakes, scoring early and often. Knowler’s back-to-back home runs with Moore in the first inning were the highlights of a dominant offensive display. Moore’s homer traveled 251 feet and brought her RBI count to 40, while Knowler’s 242-foot shot was her 11th of the season.
California responded with four runs of their own in the second and third innings, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the Tigers’ onslaught. Clemson answered again in the fourth with an RBI groundout from Knowler and extended the lead to 11-4.
The Tigers finished off the Golden Bears in the bottom of the fifth. With a pair of singles from Brown and Moore, and another home run from Knowler—her second of the game—the Tigers secured a 14-4 victory that ended the game early via the run rule. In the circle, Reese Basinger started the game but gave way to freshman Macey Cintron in relief. Cintron pitched the final three innings, allowing only two runs and striking out two batters to secure the win and her sixth of the season.
Up Next
The Tigers will look to continue their impressive run as they take on Gardner-Webb in a midweek matchup at McWhorter Stadium on Tuesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. Clemson fans can catch all the action live on ACCNX, with tickets available for purchase to watch the Tigers at home.
This series win solidified Clemson’s position in the ACC standings and highlighted the team’s well-rounded game, with dominant pitching, timely hitting, and stellar defense. With the Tigers’ offensive firepower and pitching depth, they look poised for continued success as they push toward the postseason.
