Clemson Softball: Collins Shines in Palmetto Series Win

Clemson, SC April 15: Marian Collins tags out Arianna Rodi during Clemson's 2-1 win vs. South Carolina on April 15, 2025. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

Freshman Marian Collins blasts two home runs including the walk-off in a gritty Palmetto Series finale win over South Carolina.

It was the final battle of the Palmetto Series in softball this evening as No. 20 Clemson squared off with in-state rival No. 13 South Carolina under the lights at McWhorter Stadium. Back in Columbia, the Gamecocks shut out the Tigers 6-0 in game one of the series. But on this Tuesday night in Clemson, the Tigers were looking to flip the script in front of a packed home crowd.

This one had all the ingredients: high stakes, top-25 teams, intense rivalry, and a dramatic extra-innings finish capped off by a walk-off bomb from none other than freshman standout Marian Collins. Let’s dive into how it all unfolded.

A Pitcher’s Duel to Start Things Off

In the circle, Clemson turned to Reese Basinger (14-4), while South Carolina sent out Jori Heard (13-2). The Tigers sported their clean white uniforms with the orange britches and the classic “Tigers” script. South Carolina countered with all-black uniforms and “Carolina” across the chest.

Basinger had to work early, allowing back-to-back hits in the first inning, but catcher Aby Vieira came through with a laser to second to end the threat.

The Tigers put together a promising start offensively with a Maddie Moore double and a single from Julia Knowler to put runners on the corners, but came up empty after a strikeout and groundout ended the frame.

Gamecocks Strike First

After a scoreless second, South Carolina’s Arianna Rodi broke the deadlock in the third with a solo homer to right-center, putting the Gamecocks up 1-0.

Clemson threatened again in the bottom half, loading the bases after a South Carolina pitching change, but a bold send home on a Knowler flyout backfired as Taylor Pipkins was thrown out at the plate.

Enter Brooke McCubbin

After four solid innings from Basinger allowing seven hits, one run, and two strikeouts, Brooke McCubbin took over in the fifth and delivered a masterclass out of the bullpen. She held the Gamecocks to just two hits over five shutout innings, walking two and striking out one.

Meanwhile, Clemson’s offense continued to chip away. The breakthrough came in the sixth when Marian Collins tied things up with a 226-foot rocket over the left field wall, her eighth homer of the season.

Extra-Inning Drama Under the Lights

McCubbin kept dealing, tossing a clean seventh to send the game into extras. Clemson got a two-out single from Alex Brown in the bottom half, but a Maddie Moore flyout ended the inning.

Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth, and McCubbin kept the door shut again in the top of the ninth, giving Clemson one more chance to walk it off.

And walk it off they did.

Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Marian Collins stepped to the plate—and for the second time tonight—sent a no-doubter over the left field wall. The freshman’s second homer of the night sealed a 2-1 victory for the Tigers in a nine-inning classic.

Up Next

Clemson will now shift focus to their final home ACC weekend series, welcoming Boston College for a Thursday–Saturday set with the Easter holiday on Sunday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.Thursday evening at McWhorter with the broadcast being on ACCNX. 

Final Thoughts

This was one of those games that reminds you why rivalry matchups matter so much. From the crowd to the grit shown in the circle and at the plate, Clemson showed maturity and toughness beyond the stat sheet.

Brooke McCubbin deserves massive credit—she came in during a one-run game and locked it down with ice in her veins. Against a top-15 team, her ability to limit baserunners and control the tempo gave Clemson just enough time to find that spark offensively.

And of course, that spark was Marian Collins.

The freshman’s performance wasn’t just clutch, it was legendary. Her first homer shifted the momentum, and her second will be replayed for years to come in Clemson-South Carolina history. For a young player to step into that kind of moment and deliver? That’s a sign of a rising star.

If Clemson can keep this kind of composure and find consistent production late in games like they did tonight, they’re going to be a tough out come postseason play.