Clemson Tigers Softball Secures Game One Over Cal

Tigers are off on the right track to begin the weekend.

For the first-ever meeting between these two programs, Clemson softball (24-10, 6-3 ACC) welcomed the California Golden Bears (25-7, 6-3 ACC) to McWhorter Stadium. Reese Basinger took the circle for the Tigers, opposing Anna Reimers for the Golden Bears. Fireworks rang out in pregame for Military Appreciation Night. Let’s get into some fun Friday night softball. 

The Golden Bears got on the board first with Lagi Quiroga hitting a leadoff double, later brought in by a Tianna Bell RBI-single. Clemson responded by also getting their first batter on base via walk, but she would be left stranded. Basinger displayed her experience, dropping all three batters through nine pitches in the second. 

When the top of the order came back up for Clemson, bats started swinging. Maddie Moore, Julia Knowler, and Macey Cintron hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Vieira grounded out to the shortstop, but Moore scored, tying the game 1-1. 

Overall, both teams executed defensively. Basinger and Reimers maintained damage control when runners were on base. Infielders cleaned up any ground balls to keep runs off the board. Basinger picked up back-to-back strikeouts, closing out the bottom of Cal’s lineup the second time through.

The fifth inning saw Clemson’s hottest hitters step up to the plate. Knowler sky-rocketed one off the left-field wall that fans initially thought would get out. The hit caused a long delay due to replay review over Knowler possibly passing Moore at first base. Eventually, the play was confirmed. Fans didn’t have to wait much longer to see a homer as Cintron sent the second pitch of her at bat out of the stadium 243 feet. Marian Collins also tacked on a solo home run, her 5th of the season, to put the Tigers on top 5-1. 

Cal’s Acacia Anders hit a double with one out. Bell was hit by a pitch. Clemson, pitching coach Kyle Jamieson visited with Basinger, but the ace would remain in the game. Rightfully so, as she worked out of trouble with two quick pop-ups getting out of the sixth inning. Clemson would need only three more outs. 

Mika Lee sparked hope for the Golden Bears by getting a solo home run. Consecutive hits led to Brooke McCubbin entering the game to replace Basinger. A sacrifice fly scored another run, but McCubbin would retire the next batter, ending the game. 

The Tigers' powerful fifth inning would prove to be the game-changer, carrying them to a 5-3 victory. Basinger would record the win (11-4) and amass four strikeouts with a 2.34 ERA. McCubbin recorded her second save of the season. Reimers would collect the loss (5-1), allowing eight hits and three walks.

The first game of this weekend series did not disappoint, with drama down to the final out. Catch Clemson Tigers Softball in action again tomorrow for a doubleheader to end the series, due to possible inclement weather on Sunday. Tomorrow's game times are 2:30 PM (ACCNX) and 6:00 PM EDT (ACCN).