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Apr 22, 2025

Clemson Upsets No. 1 Tennessee, 4-3

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 19 Clemson Tigers knocked off No. 1 Tennessee, 4-3, in nine innings to secure the highest ranked victory in program history. With the win, Clemson improved to 38-12, while Tennessee dropped to 37-10. 

Jamison Brockenbrough, a transfer from Tennessee, made the game’s deciding play in the bottom of the ninth as she caught a line drive and doubled off a runner at second base to end the Vols’ threat. Freshman Taylor Pipkins delivered the go-ahead run in the top half of the ninth with a sac fly into left field that scored Ava Wilson from third just ahead of a strong throw.

Softball’s win in Knoxville is the 39th all-time win over a top-ranked team for any Clemson team, the fifth for any women’s team, and the first on the road by a women’s program in history. 

The highest ranked victory the Softball program previously had on its resume was from the 2022 ACC Tournament when the Tigers took down No. 2 Virginia Tech, 4-1, to advance to the championship game for the second-consecutive season.

A pitcher’s duel broke out between Clemson’s Reese Basinger and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pipkins. Neither pitcher allowed a walk in the first two innings of play, retiring the first six batters they faced in order. It was Brockenbrough that broke open the no-hitter for either side with a single through the left side in the top of the third, but the Tigers left her stranded to end the inning.

The Lady Vols opened the scoring in the bottom of the frame after a single and an error allowed two runners to be on when a single up the middle hit the center field grass.

Clemson was able to get on the board in the fifth inning and took the lead after loading the bases with two outs. Senior Alex Brown got a hold of a pitch off the end of the bat, and a throwing error attempting to get her at first was erratic that allowed the bases to clear and Brown to advance around to third. The Tigers maintained the 3-1 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the sixth, Tennessee evened the game at 3-3 after the first two batters got aboard off back-to-back singles and advanced into scoring position on the throw. Both came home on a single into right field before the Tigers got out of the inning. The score would stay level through the seventh to force extras.

It was the ninth inning that Clemson reclaimed the lead. After Macey Cintron drew a leadoff walk, Ava Wilson came in to run for her and advanced around to third on a single and ground out. Pipkins then delivered the go-ahead run with a sac fly into left field that scored Wilson from third.

Basinger finished the game with five innings of work and seven strikeouts without conceding a walk. She was replaced in the sixth inning by senior Brooke McCubbin, who faced 15 batters in her four innings of work. She earned the victory to improve to 11-5 this season.

Up Next

The Tigers conclude the regular season with a three-game series at Georgia Tech beginning on Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m. on ACCNX. Action is slated to continue on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ACC Network before concluding on Sunday at noon on ESPN2.

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