If you were hoping for a quiet Friday night on the diamond in the Tigers vs Wolfpack softball matchup… Clemson had other plans. The Tigers rolled into Raleigh and absolutely lit it up, taking Game 1 against NC State with a commanding 17-3 win in just five innings.
This was Clemson’s highest scoring game of the season, and it wasn’t even close. The bats came alive, the pitching did its job, and the Tigers looked every bit like a team preparing to make a serious postseason run.
Let’s break it down.
Early Offense, Big Numbers
Clemson didn’t waste time — they jumped on NC State right out of the gate. After putting up three runs in the top of the first, the Tigers followed with an eight-run second inning that essentially put the game out of reach before the Wolfpack had time to settle in.
Some standout numbers:
- Jamison Brockenbrough: 3-for-3, 3 runs
- Alex Brown: 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 RBI
- Marian Collins: Grand slam, 5 RBIs
- Macey Cintron: 2 hits, 4 RBIs, HR
- Taylor Pipkins: First collegiate HR
Every time Clemson got runners on, someone cashed them in. The lineup produced up and down — this wasn’t a one-player show. And that grand slam from Collins in the second? Absolutely crushed. That’s her 7th home run of the season, by the way.
By the time the fourth inning rolled around, it was 14-1. And the Tigers weren’t done.
Freshman Power Surge
One of the most exciting takeaways from this game? Clemson’s freshmen aren’t just holding their own — they’re carrying weight.
- Cintron’s three-run shot was her 36th RBI of the year — she’s now second all-time in RBIs by a Clemson freshman.
- Pipkins’ solo homer in the fourth was her first, and she became the fifth freshman to go deep this season.
- Collins, already a key piece of the offense, is now fourth all-time in freshman RBIs at Clemson with 31.
The youth movement is very real in this lineup, and it’s producing in major moments.
Milestone Night for Coach Rittman
It wasn’t just the players making headlines Friday night — Head Coach John Rittman reached a major career milestone, coaching in his 1,400th career game.
He now holds a career record of 971-426-3, including 221-75 since taking over at Clemson and building the program from the ground up.
It’s fitting that such a dominant win came on a night honoring one of the sport’s most consistent coaching presences.
The Stats Behind the Story
Here’s a quick breakdown of just how efficient the Tigers were:
- 13 hits
- 17 runs
- 5 home runs
- Only 3 runners left on base
- 8-run 2nd inning — tied for highest scoring inning this season
And don’t forget the work in the circle. Reese Basinger got the start and picked up her 13th win, going four strong with four strikeouts. The defense held up behind her, and the early cushion allowed the staff to stay flexible.
Final Score: Clemson 17, NC State 3 (5 innings)
NC State tacked on a couple late runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it didn’t matter. Clemson closed the door with two runners stranded and walked off with their eighth straight ACC series-opening win.
That dates back nearly a full calendar year to the 2024 Notre Dame series — consistency at its finest.
What’s Next?
Clemson and NC State are back at it Saturday, April 12 at 5 p.m., with the game streaming live on ACCNX. The Tigers will look to lock up the series and keep building momentum with just a few weeks to go before the ACC Tournament.
You can catch full game recaps, player spotlights, and weekly features over on our site at clemsonsportsmedia.com — we’ll have more from this series and exclusive postgame insight all weekend.
Thanks for reading! If you’re enjoying these breakdowns and want more Clemson softball/baseball coverage, hit subscribe and forward this to a fellow Tiger.
We’ll be back with more from Raleigh tomorrow night.
