Clemson Tigers Softball Set for ACC Opener Against No. 14 Duke

Maddie Moore slid and reached for home during a close game vs. Duke last season at McWhorter Stadium. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

This coming weekend presents a big test for the Clemson Tigers softball team as they open ACC play against a formidable opponent in the No. 14 ranked Duke Blue Devils. Duke, the reigning ACC Softball Champions, narrowly defeated Clemson 4-3 in extra innings during the 2024 ACC Championship semifinal last time the two faced off. The Tigers enter the matchup riding a 14-game winning streak after sweeping Charleston Southern in Wednesday night’s doubleheader, bringing their season record to 17-6. The highly anticipated showdown between Clemson and Duke is set to take place at McWhorter Stadium.

Clemson Tigers Softball

Clemson currently holds a 17-6 overall record entering its first weekend of conference play, fueled by a 14-game winning streak that began on February 9 against Ohio State. Historically, Duke has dominated the series, holding an 11-3 advantage, including a 5-2 record at McWhorter Stadium. Clemson holds a .340 team batting average, a .587 slugging percentage, and a .428 on-base percentage. The Tigers' pitching staff maintains a 2.63 ERA through 149 innings, striking out 119 batters. Offensively, Clemson has registered 209 hits across 23 games in 2025, with the freshman class accounting for 72 of those.

Key contributors include, Alex Brown (30 hits), Julia Knowler (29 hits), and Maddie Moore (28 hits). Senior Alex Brown made headlines with her first career grand slam against Charleston Southern on March 5. Senior Maddie Moore leads the team with a .491 batting average and ranks No. 3 in Softball America’s March Second Baseman Rankings, posting a .480 average, 1.492 OPS, four doubles, two triples, five home runs, 17 RBIs, seven walks, and a 1.000 fielding percentage. In the circle, Reese Basinger leads the Tigers' pitching staff with 51 strikeouts in 52.0 innings, sporting a 2.29 ERA.

Impact Players for Clemson:

• Maddie Moore (2B): Leads the team with a .491 batting average and ranked No. 3 in Softball America’s March Second Baseman Rankings.

• Alex Brown (3B): Notched 30 hits this season, including her first career grand slam.

• Reese Basinger (P): Clemson pitcher with 51 strikeouts and a 2.29 ERA in 52.0 innings pitched.

• Julia Knowler (1B): Contributing consistently at the plate with 29 hits and 8 home runs.

Duke Blue Devils Softball

Duke enters the series with a 15-6 record but is looking to bounce back after being swept by No. 19 South Carolina last weekend. The Blue Devils rebounded with a dominant 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Elon in a midweek contest. Duke holds a .315 team batting average, with junior Ahinah Vega leading the way at .507 with a 1.310 OPS. Vega went 2-for-3 in the win over Elon. Junior KK Mathis is another key player, hitting .340 and coming off a 2-for-3 performance with a grand slam against Elon.

With the departure of 2024 ACC Pitcher of the Year Jala Wright, Duke now looks to Cassidy Curd to lead the pitching staff. Curd has logged 60.0 innings with 60 strikeouts and a 3.03 ERA. As a team, Duke holds a 3.13 ERA with 107 total strikeouts. Along with Curd, Pitt transfer Dani Drogemuller has also been an impactful pitcher with 40.1 innings pitched, 23 strikeouts, and a 2.95 ERA.

Impact Players for Duke:

• Ahinah Vega (INF): Leads the team with a .507 batting average and 1.310 OPS.

• KK Mathis (INF): Batting .340 and recently hit a grand slam against Elon.

• Cassidy Curd (P): Duke’s top pitcher with 60 strikeouts and a 3.03 ERA in 60.0 innings.

• Dani Drogemuller (P): Duke pitcher with 23 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA in 40.1 innings.

Another Exciting Weekend in McWhorter Stadium

This weekend’s series will be a crucial early-season test for both teams as they begin ACC play. Clemson will look to extend its winning streak and capitalize on its offensive momentum, while Duke aims to regain its footing after a tough weekend series loss. With both squads featuring elite talent at the plate and in the circle, fans can expect a thrilling battle inside McWhorter Stadium all weekend long.

Weekend Schedule:

• Friday: 6:00 PM

• Saturday: 1:00 PM

• Sunday: 12:00 PM

All games can be watched on ACC Network Extra.