Feb 03, 2026

GAMEDAY CENTRAL: Softball Opens Season at NFCA Leadoff Classic

No. 13/12 Clemson (0-0) at NFCA Leadoff Classic

GAME SETUPS

Clemson: Roster | Schedule | Game Notes (PDF) | Tournament Central

PREVIEW

The Clemson Softball program begins its seventh season of competition on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 after being crowned the 2025 ACC Champions and making a postseason appearance every year eligible
Clemson returns six starting position players from the 2025 roster, including Jamison Brockenbrough, Macey Cintron, Marian Collins, Kylee Johnson, Julia Knowler and Taylor Pipkins
The Tigers welcome 11 newcomers to the 2026 squad, including four transfers and seven freshmen
Clemson will play five opponents they have previously faced after last seeing SE Louisiana in 2024 (0-2 all-time), Oregon in 2024 (1-0 all-time), Liberty in 2024 (3-1 all-time), Auburn in 2025 (3-2 all-time) and Michigan State in 2023 (4-0 all-time)

QUICK HITS

Clemson has outscored opponents 1,864-804 through six seasons, including 439-200 in 2025
The Tigers have totaled 2,505 hits through six years of competition, including a program-record 549 during the 2025 season – Clemson tallied single-season team records in both doubles (105) and home runs (85)
Clemson takes a 122 game hitting streak into the 2026 season that began during the UNCG matchup at regionals on May 19, 2023. The 122 mark tied the program record set from the inaugural game to April 22, 2022
Entering the 2026 season, the Tigers take a 26-game streak where they have scored a run into the SE Louisiana game. This is the third-longest streak by the program and trails the 54-game streak that was set from 2024-25

OPENING WEEKEND HISTORY

Entering its seventh season of competition, Clemson has maintained a 19-7 record during opening weekend action
The only season Clemson had a losing record after the first weekend of play was the inaugural season in 2020 when the Tigers were 2-3
The Tigers have outhit opponents during opening weekend 215-143
Highlighting the last two seasons’ opening weekends have been freshmen hitting home runs in their first collegiate at bat – Julia Knowler (2024) hit hers against Missouri State in Clearwater, and Macey Cintron (2025) hit hers against Ole Miss in Boca Raton.