“Pressure Is a Privilege”: Clemson Softball Heads to Austin for Super Regional Clash with Texas

Tigers are in Texas and ready to play.

The lights will be bright, the bats will be hot, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Under the Thursday night glow of Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas, the No. 11 seed Clemson Tigers will step onto one of the sport’s grandest stages, looking to rewrite the narrative — and maybe, just maybe, make history.

Welcome to Super Regionals. And welcome to a battle of two softball heavyweights.

The Road to Austin

Clemson (47-12) didn’t just roll into the Super Regional — they stormed in. Behind a wave of confidence, a 10-game winning streak, and the momentum of a dominant Regional sweep, the Tigers arrive in Texas playing their best ball of the year.

The 2025 ACC Champions made quick work of their Clemson Regional, defeating USC Upstate 10-2 in five innings, grinding out a 1-0 extra-inning win over Northwestern, and then dispatching Kentucky 5-1 in a polished finale. It was just the second time in program history Clemson has swept a regional — and they did it with a blend of power, poise, and, in the words of catcher Aby Vieira, “grit.”

“We pull out wins in different ways,” Vieira said. “This team’s gritty. That’s the big word I’ve used all year. Pressure is a privilege.”

It’s a phrase that seems to define this year’s Tigers — a mixture of confidence and composure, built on battle scars and breakthroughs. Now, the team heads west, eyeing its first-ever Super Regional win and a trip to OKC for the Women’s College World Series.

A Lone Star Showdown

Standing in their way? The No. 6 Texas Longhorns — a 49-10 powerhouse with a lineup that can rattle even the most experienced arms.

Texas enters with a terrifying .361 team batting average, powered by four hitters batting over .400. Mia Scott (.442), Ashton Maloney (.429), Reese Atwood (.429), and Kayden Henry (.420) make up a nightmare of a top half — and Atwood, in particular, is the kind of slugger that keeps coaches up at night. With 20 home runs and 84 RBIs, the junior catcher is one of the most feared hitters in the nation.

But Texas doesn’t stop there. Joley Mitchell (14 HR) and Katie Stewart (15 HR) add to a lineup loaded with power and depth, and sophomore ace Teagan Kavan leads the staff with a 23-4 record and 200 strikeouts. 

“They’re a complete team, pitching staff, offense, defense, there’s a reason they’ve been to the championship series in the World Series,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said. “We’re gonna have to earn everything we get here.”

Earned, Not Given

That mentality has defined Clemson’s season. The Tigers have outscored opponents 422-183, slugged 82 home runs, and shattered program records for hits (520), runs (422), RBIs (388), and total bases (890). They’ve done it with a blend of experience and youth, and with a team-first mentality that’s carried them through close calls and big moments alike.

Veterans like Alex Brown (77 hits), Maddie Moore (75), Julia Knowler (57), and Vieira (57) have provided steady production all season. The freshman class, meanwhile, has poured in 176 hits — a glimpse into the future of a program that’s still incredibly young in the national landscape.

Clemson’s pitching has held its own, too. Reese Basinger (17-5, 2.81 ERA) and Brooke McCubbin (18-5, 2.54 ERA) have combined for over 250 strikeouts, and both will be leaned on heavily to slow down the Longhorn offense.

“We’ve faced a lot of really great teams this whole season,” said senior third baseman Alex Brown. “We’re battle-tested. I think that’s really prepared us for this kind of environment.”

History on the Horizon

This is Clemson’s third Super Regional appearance in five postseasons — a staggering feat for a program that only began in 2020. Each time they’ve hosted a regional, they’ve made it to the round of 16. But each time they’ve reached this stage — Stillwater in 2022, Norman in 2023 — the story has ended here.

The Tigers are 0-4 all-time in Super Regional games.

Now, in Austin, they’re hoping to flip the script.

Rittman, who has been the architect of Clemson softball’s rapid rise, believes this year might be different. “I love our team,” he said. “This has been a fun year to coach. This team has been awesome both on and off the field.”

And as for the players?

They’re ready. Loose. Focused. Gritty.

“We just lean on each other for support,” Brown said.

“We’re going to make the most of it,” Vieira added. “With freedom. And have fun doing it.”

Super Regional Schedule (All Times ET)

Game 1: Thursday, May 22 – 9:00 p.m. | ESPN2

Game 2: Friday, May 23 – 9:00 p.m. | ESPN2

Game 3 (If Necessary): Saturday, May 24 – 9:00 p.m. | TBA

Final Word:

No matter the outcome, Clemson softball isn’t just arriving in Austin — they’re arriving as a team that belongs. Built on belief, bonded by adversity, and led by seniors who know the weight of this moment as well as the young talent, the Tigers aren’t here just for the ride.

They’re here to win.