In a tightly contested matchup, the No. 19 Clemson Tigers edged top-ranked Tennessee, 4-3, in nine innings at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville. The victory marks the highest-ranked win in Clemson softball history and the first time a women’s team from the university has defeated a No. 1 opponent on the road. Clemson improves to 38-12, while Tennessee drops to 37-10.
The decisive moment came in the bottom of the ninth when Clemson outfielder Jamison Brockenbrough—who transferred from Tennessee—secured the final two outs in a single play. With the tying run on base and Tennessee threatening to extend the game, Brockenbrough caught a sharply hit line drive and immediately doubled off a runner at second base, ending the game and sealing Clemson’s milestone victory.
The game-winning run had been delivered minutes earlier in the top of the ninth. Freshman Taylor Pipkins lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Ava Wilson from third base just ahead of the throw. Wilson had entered the game as a pinch runner after Macey Cintron led off the inning with a walk and advanced around the bases on a single and a groundout.
Pitching was a central storyline throughout the matchup. Clemson’s senior right-hander Reese Basinger and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens engaged in a duel through the early innings, with both pitchers retiring the first six batters in order and allowing no walks. Basinger worked five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking none. Senior Brooke McCubbin took over in the sixth and earned the win, scattering four hits over four innings to improve her season record to 11-5.
Tennessee opened the scoring in the bottom of the third after Clemson committed a defensive miscue. A single and an error placed two runners aboard, and a third single into center field brought one of them home for a 1-0 lead. Clemson responded in the fifth, capitalizing on defensive mistakes by the Lady Vols. With the bases loaded and two outs, senior Alex Brown hit a slow roller toward the pitcher. The throw to retire her was off target, clearing the bases and giving Clemson a 3-1 advantage while Brown advanced all the way to third.
The Tigers’ two-run cushion was short-lived. In the sixth inning, Tennessee mounted a comeback. The first two batters reached base with back-to-back singles and advanced into scoring position on the ensuing throw. A single into right field brought both home to tie the game at 3-3. McCubbin, who had just entered the game in relief of Basinger, minimized further damage to preserve the tie.
Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, pushing the contest into extra innings. Clemson’s defense remained steady, and McCubbin effectively worked through the eighth and ninth without allowing a run.
Brockenbrough made a significant impact beyond her defensive heroics in the final inning. She also recorded the game’s first hit, breaking up the no-hitter in the third inning with a single through the left side. Although Clemson failed to capitalize on that opportunity, it was an early sign of the offensive pressure they would later apply.
The result is only the fifth time any Clemson women’s program has defeated a top-ranked opponent, and it stands as a benchmark for the Tigers’ young softball program. Prior to this win, Clemson’s highest-ranked victory came in the 2022 ACC Tournament when the Tigers defeated No. 2 Virginia Tech, 4-1, to advance to the conference championship.
Clemson’s 4-3 victory over No. 1 Tennessee is a landmark achievement for the program, underscoring the Tigers’ continued growth and competitiveness on the national stage. As the regular season winds down, this win stands as a potential turning point that could have lasting implications for the team’s postseason trajectory.
