CLEMSON — The Clemson Tigers softball program is days away from beginning their sixth season of play. 

The Tigers will kick their season off with the annual Orange versus Purple scrimmage on Feb. 2, before venturing to Boca Raton, Fla., to participate in Florida Atlantic University’s Paradise Classic from Feb. 6-9. 

In the Paradise Classic, the Tigers will have a chance to play Power 4 programs Kansas and Ole Miss, in addition to FAU, Georgia State, and Missouri State.

The first matchup against Ole Miss is set for Feb. 6, at 11 a.m. as head coach John Rittman seeks to win the program’s sixth consecutive opener. The Tigers have never lost their first game of the season, but that record will be tested as a new squad takes the diamond.

Since the program’s inception, Clemson has advanced to an NCAA Regional or Super Regional Tournament every year, under the leadership of athletes like former National Player of the Year Valerie Cagle.

STRENGTHS

Though veterans like Cagle, pitcher Millie Thompson, and outfielder McKenzie Clark are no longer with Clemson, the Tigers return several playmakers, including 2024 All-American infielder Maddie Moore. She held a .368 average last year, with 10 home runs, and 39 RBIs. Moore is listed as D1Softball’s No. 2 second baseman ahead of the season.

Clemson also returns infielder Alex Brown, a senior who received All-ACC honors at the conclusion of last season. A former transfer from North Carolina, Brown finished with a .328 average, .426 slugging percentage, and led the team with 61 hits in her first year with the Tigers.

Sophomore Julia Knowler also returns, looking to build on her freshman year campaign in which she recorded 30 hits, including five home runs, in 34 games played.

QUESTION MARKS

While Clemson has several key pieces returning to the circle at McWhorter Stadium, they also suffer the loss of 10 seniors. Clemson lost hitting power from Clark, Cagle, Alia Logoleo, and Arielle Oda, who combined for 199 hits and 25 homers last year.

Brown, Moore, Knowler, and several newcomers will be targets to match the power of the graduates.

In the circle, Clemson loses Cagle’s dominance, as she finished her career with an 86-37 record with a 1.72 ERA as a pitcher. Additionally, Clemson will miss former starter Reagan Spencer, who posted a 28-6 record and a 1.57 throughout her four years as a Tiger.

This year, in the absence of Cagle and Spencer, the pitching staff will be centered around senior Brooke McCubbin, who finished with a winning 11-4 record last year. 

Transfers Reese Bassinger (righty) from Winthrop and Brook Melnychuk (righty) out of Louisiana Tech look to add depth to the pitching staff.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Clemson is hopeful that freshmen Marian Collins, an infielder from Marietta, Ga., and Sam Minish, an outfielder from Hull, Ga., can contribute immediate power to the lineup. Both Collins and Minish received Georgia All-State honors in multiple years and are listed on D1 Softball’s Top 100 Freshmen list.

Clemson also adds Jamison Brockenbrough, a junior transfer from Tennessee, who is originally from Ireland. In her two seasons with the Volunteers, the outfielder recorded 34 hits and maintained a .262 average and .366 on-base percentage.

Clemson welcomes two-way player Macey Cintron, a freshman first baseman and right-handed pitcher. Cintron is a two-time high school state champion and was named Georgia’s Player of the Year in 2022. She also played on Puerto Rico’s Junior Olympic National Team. She is ranked No. 1 on Extra Innings’ Top 100 list.