Freshman Marian Collins delivered two pivotal home runs, including a walk-off in the ninth inning, to lift Clemson (35-11) to a 2-1 upset victory over No. 13/12 South Carolina (32-11) on Tuesday evening at McWhorter Stadium. The result split the Palmetto Series between the two in-state rivals, with each team winning on its home field.
Collins, who now leads Clemson’s freshman class with nine home runs, tied the game with a solo shot in the sixth inning and ended it with another in the ninth. Her performance brought her season RBI total to 33, ranking third on Clemson’s all-time freshman list behind Macey Cintron (36 in 2025) and Valerie Cagle (45 in 2021). Her nine home runs also tie her with McKenzie Clark (2021) for second on the Tigers’ freshman home run leaderboard.
Clemson’s pitching staff played a key role in the low-scoring contest. Senior Reese Basinger started the game, throwing four innings and recording two strikeouts. Senior Brooke McCubbin took over in the fifth and secured her 10th win of the season with five scoreless innings. She allowed just two hits and recorded a crucial strikeout in the eighth inning to maintain the 1-1 deadlock.
South Carolina’s lone run came early but was ultimately not enough to overcome Clemson’s late offensive surge. The Gamecocks were limited to four hits on the night and did not register an extra-base hit, a credit to Clemson’s effective pitching and defensive execution.
The victory marked Clemson’s 35th of the season and served as a significant result in the in-state rivalry, leveling the Palmetto Series. For Collins, the game further established her role in the Tigers’ lineup, providing a statistical and situational impact. With the postseason approaching, the performance also highlighted Clemson’s depth, particularly the contributions from underclassmen and experienced pitching.
