Clemson softball made a statement on the West Coast Friday night, knocking off No. 17 Stanford 7–5 in a gritty, all-around team win to open the weekend series. The Tigers came out hot at the plate, played sharp defense when it mattered most, and held off a late Cardinal rally to improve to 29–10 on the season
From the first inning, Clemson looked locked in. After Alex Brown drew a leadoff walk, Maddie Moore came to the plate with two outs and did what she does best — deliver in big moments. She sent a pitch deep over the left-field fence for a two-run homer, giving the Tigers an early 2–0 lead. It was her seventh bomb of the season and set the tone for the night.
In the third, Clemson added another run without even needing a hit. After loading the bases, catcher Aby Vieira was hit by a pitch, bringing in another run and stretching the lead to 3–0. Patience at the plate played a huge role in the game — the Tigers forced Stanford’s ace NiJaree Canady into long at-bats, drawing six walks in total.
On the defensive side, Clemson kept things clean. Starting pitcher Regan Basinger tossed 4.2 solid innings, giving up only one earned run and working around a few tough spots. The defense backed her up, especially in the outfield. Left fielder McKenzie Clark made a highlight-reel diving catch in the fifth to stop a potential Stanford rally, and third baseman Alia Logoleo was steady with the glove all game long.
The biggest moment of the night came in the top of the sixth. With two runners on, Julia Knowler stepped into the box and absolutely crushed a three-run homer to right-center. That blast — her 14th of the season — gave Clemson a 7–2 lead.
Stanford wasn’t done. In the bottom of the sixth, they chipped away with a solo home run from Kylie Chung, then came alive in the seventh with a two-run double by River Mahler to make it 7–5.
With the tying run in scoring position and just one out, Clemson turned to Millie Thompson to close it out. The veteran pitcher did exactly that, getting a groundout and fly out to end the game and shut the door on Stanford’s comeback attempt.
Clemson’s offense came from a total team effort. Moore and Knowler drove in five of the seven runs, while Brown scored twice and reached base three times. Economides and Vieira also played key roles in applying pressure throughout the game.
This win was a big one. Beating a top-20 team on the road, especially in a place like Stanford where they rarely lose, shows just how dangerous Clemson can be heading into the final stretch of the season. The Tigers are heating up at the right time, and with postseason play just around the corner, this was the kind of win that builds confidence and momentum.
Clemson and Stanford are back at it Saturday at 5 p.m. PT for Game 2 of the series. If the opener was any indication, we’re in for another tight, hard-fought game. But for now, the Tigers can enjoy a huge win.
