Clemson Softball Has Made a Believer Out of the Country

Apr. 22,2025; Kylee Johnson, Sam Minish, and Taylor Pipkins celebrate the go ahead run in the fifth at home plate, in Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, Knoxville, TN. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

As the past generations used to say when someone didn’t want to take heed to warnings or advice, “I’m about to make a believer out of you.” That phrase often drew different reactions. For some, it was a wake-up call. For others, they kept right on ignoring the signs.

Well, the Clemson Tigers Softball team has certainly made believers out of many.

If you’ve followed this group closely, you already know how this season has gone. Clemson started the year 3-6 after graduating ten, with several key players exiting to life after college. With new faces, unanswered questions, and the need to gel quickly, it wasn’t the prettiest beginning. Back in February, I asked folks to have a little patience and not get ahead of themselves, to just enjoy the journey.

That patience has paid off.

Following that rough opening stretch, the Tigers rattled off 15 straight wins, and they didn’t sneak by anyone either. One of the first major statements came in a 5-3 win over then-No. 10 Georgia. Some called it a fluke, thinking the Bulldogs just had an off day.

Feb. 22, 2025; Jamison Brockenbrough and Kennedy Airail celebrate at the plate during Clemson's 5-3 win over Georgia, at McWhorter Stadium. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

However, Clemson kept winning behind electric offensive showings and dominant pitching. It wasn’t a fluke. It was the start of something real, and now, there’s no denying the body of work. Voters, it’s time to stop with the SEC bias. Aside from the early-season growing pains, this team has proven themselves repeatedly. They’ve beaten Georgia, split with South Carolina, and now just knocked off the top-ranked team in the country in Tennessee ON THE ROAD! All SEC opponents. The résumé is more than valid.

Since that 3-6 start, Clemson is now 38-12. That’s one of the hottest runs in the country, going 35-6 in that span. They’ve taken care of business in conference play, handled Stanford, run-ruled Duke, and swept a few others. No one’s saying the job is done, but let’s acknowledge this team for what it is, a power on the rise. They’ve earned respect, and it’s time they get it.

Last night, they delivered the latest and most impressive moment of the season. On the road in Knoxville, Clemson took on No. 1 Tennessee in their own backyard. The Lady Vols were playing their first game as the top-ranked team since 2014, backed by one of the best home-field atmospheres in college softball. Most probably didn’t give Clemson much of a chance, but we’ve seen the heart of this team all year. We’ve seen the grit, the fight, and the mentality that they won’t back down from anyone.

Reese Basinger pitches from the circle at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN. No. 19 Clemson defeated No. 1 Tennessee, 4-3 in extra innings. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

Karlyn Pickens started in the circle for Tennessee, and Reese Basinger got the nod for Clemson. The game quickly became a pitching duel. Pickens had electric stuff, retiring Tiger after Tiger, while Basinger carved through Tennessee’s lineup early with pinpoint location and nasty off-speed pitches.

The no-hitter from Pickens was broken up in the third inning by none other than Jamison Brockenbrough, a former Tennessee Volunteer who transferred to Clemson this season. In her return to Rocky Top, Brockenbrough delivered a strong performance on both sides of the ball. Her single not only ended Pickens’ early dominance but also extended her own hitting streak to 10 games, and fittingly, she would have the final word as well.

Tennessee scratched a run in the third inning off a defensive miscue, but Clemson never flinched. In the fifth, with the bases loaded and two outs, Alex Brown hit a sharp ball back to the pitcher. What followed was a chain reaction of defensive errors that allowed all three runners to come home. Just like that, Clemson was up 3-1. Basinger continued to shine, finishing with seven strikeouts before handing the ball off to Brooke McCubbin in the sixth. Tennessee tied the game with a two-run single, but the Tigers never unraveled.

The game stretched into extras, and in the ninth, it was freshman Taylor Pipkins who delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly after a lengthy video review confirmed that the Ava Wilson run at the plate was, in fact, safe, and she did not leave early.

Clemson’s defense would seal the deal with a game-ending double play, and again, it was Brockenbrough who was right in the middle of it. She caught the fly ball and made the throw that shut the door on Tennessee’s rally attempt. From breaking the no-hitter to sealing the win, it was a true homecoming performance.

Now sitting at 38-12, Clemson continues to prove the doubters wrong. This team isn’t a Cinderella story. They’re not an underdog. They’re one of the best teams in college softball, plain and simple; and for anyone still not convinced? Well, as the old saying goes, I hope you’re ready to be made a believer.