CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman Marian Collins hit the game-tying solo home run in the sixth and hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the 2-1 upset victory against the No. 13/12 South Carolina Gamecocks (32-11) on Tuesday evening at McWhorter Stadium. The victory moved the Tigers to 35-11 on the year and led to the Palmetto Series presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery splitting, as both programs won their respective home game.
With her two home runs on the night, Collins has brought her total to nine on the season to lead the current Clemson freshman class and sit tied for second with McKenzie Clark (9 – 2021) on the Tigers’ freshman home run list. She tallied her 32nd and 33rd RBIs of the year to move up to third on Clemson’s freshman RBI list trailing only Macey Cintron (36 – 2025) and Valerie Cagle (45 – 2021).
In the circle, senior Brooke McCubbin earned her 10th win of the year behind five innings of work. She faced 19 batters and struck out one while limiting the Gamecocks to only two hits, neither of which were for extra bases. McCubbins lone strikeout came in the top of the eighth inning to keep Clemson alive. Senior Reese Basinger pitched four innings with two strikeouts to open Tuesday night’s game.
The Gamecocks put runners in scoring position in both the first and second inning, but did not capitalize on a run scored until the top of the third inning. In the third, a solo home run with two outs gave South Carolina the 1-0 edge.
The Tigers evened things in the bottom of the sixth inning when Collins drove the fifth pitch of her at bat 226 feet out of right center. Collins came up with the timely hit again in the bottom of the ninth inning. With a 1-2 count, Collins hit her second home run of the game 216 feet to left field to walk off the Gamecocks, 2-1.
Alex Brown and Maddie Moore joined Collins with multiple hits on the night, while Julia Knowler, Taylor Pipkins and Jamison Brockenbrough brought Clemson’s total hit count to nine. The win moves the Tigers to 7-2 all-time against South Carolina, including 3-1 all-time at McWhorter Stadium. Tonight’s win is also Clemson’s 14th against Top 50 RPI opponents.
Up Next
The Tigers conclude the 2025 home stretch with a three-game series against Boston College. Action is slated to begin on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. on ACCNX. Clemson will conclude the season at home with Senior Day on Saturday, April 19. The Tigers will recognize and honor their nine seniors following the game that begins at noon. Grab tickets to the entire weekend stretch here.