CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshmen Macey Cintron and Marian Collins recorded home runs in the fifth inning to help break open Friday night’s series opener and propel Clemson Softball to a 5-3 victory against California. With the win, Clemson improved to 25-10 (7-3 ACC), while Cal fell to 25-9 (6-4 ACC).
The Tigers strung together nine total hits, including the two home runs by Cintron and Collins. Cintron tallied her eighth multi-hit game of the year and seventh multi-RBI night. Sophomores Julia Knowler and Kylee Johnson also picked up multi-hit nights, finishing with two each. Knowler also extended her reached-base streak to 11 games following her two hits. Senior Maddie Moore was the lone Tiger to score multiple runs, finishing with two.
The Golden Bears took the lead in the first inning after the leadoff batter singled and scored before Clemson could end the inning. Clemson evened the game in the bottom of the third inning after loading the bases following singles from Moore, Knowler and Cintron. Aby Vieira picked up her 20th RBI on the year to score Moore and make it a 1-1 game.
Clemson took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning off two home runs by freshmen. Cintron clocked her seventh of the season that went 243 feet for a three-run bomb. She brings her season RBI count to 29 after Moore and Knowler scored on the play. Her 29 RBIs as a freshman tied for the third-most by a freshman in program history with McKenzie Clark (2021). Cintron trails only Alia Logoleo (32 in 2021) and Valerie Cagle (45 in 2021).
Two batters later, freshman Marian Collins added a solo home run to extend the Tigers’ lead to 5-1. This was Collins’ fifth home run of the season, which tied her with Knowler, Vieira and Ava Wilson for the fifth-most by a freshman in program history. The solo shot that traveled 238 feet also brought her RBI count to 20 on the season.
California responded with a solo shot in the top of the seventh. The Tigers picked up the first out, but the Golden Bears were able to capitalize and put runners on the corners. With one out, Clemson turned to relief pitcher Brooke McCubbin to replace starter Reese Basinger. Cal scored one more run on a sac fly to left field but left the final runner stranded as Clemson picked up the 5-3 victory.
Basinger finished the night with 6.1 innings of work and four strikeouts en route to her 11th victory of the year. McCubbin pitched the final 0.2 innings and threw only four pitches on her way to her second save of 2025.
Up Next
In anticipation of inclement weather on Sunday, the Clemson Softball program has announced schedule changes for the weekend series against California. The Tigers are now set to play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29 beginning at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Tickets for Sunday’s originally scheduled game can be used for the 2:30 p.m. matchup on Saturday afternoon. Clemson Athletics will clear McWhorter Stadium between games. Tickets for Saturday evening’s scheduled game at 6 p.m. will still be eligible for the evening series finale. Tickets for all three games are still available to be purchased online or at the gate prior to each game.
The series will begin on Friday, March 28 at 6 p.m. on ACCNX. Saturday afternoon’s game will be broadcast on ACCNX as well, while the series finale will be available to watch on ACC Network.
