One week after a walk-off victory over rival South Carolina, No. 19 Clemson softball delivered its biggest win in program history: an extra-inning upset of No. 1 Tennessee.
The Tigers (37-12, 16-5 ACC) held off the Volunteers for a 4-3 win in nine innings, marking their highest-ranked victory ever and another major addition to their growing list of statement wins this season.
Tied 3-3 heading into extra innings, Taylor Pipkins lifted a sacrifice fly, giving Clemson a 4-3 lead in the ninth. In fitting fashion, former Volunteer Jamison Brockenbrough closed defensively, snagging a line drive to center and firing to second base to double off the runner for the final out.
The Volunteers opened the scoring in the third after a single, and an error set up two runs on a base hit up the middle. Clemson responded in the fifth inning, loading the bases and taking a 3-1 lead on a throwing error by Tennessee that cleared the bags.
Tennessee responded immediately in the sixth, tying the game with a series of singles.
Clemson’s bullpen was the difference. Senior Reese Basinger struck out seven and allowed two earned runs over five innings before handing things off to Brooke McCubbin, who shut down Tennessee across the final four frames. McCubbin picked up her 11th win of the season, holding the Vols scoreless in extras.
Despite throwing a complete game, Tennessee starter Karlyn Pickens suffered the loss.
Other ranked wins this season for the Tigers include victories over No. 4 South Carolina, No. 14 Stanford, No. 23 Ohio State and No. 24 Georgia.
No. 19 Clemson wraps up its regular season with a three-game series at Georgia Tech starting Friday at 6 p.m. in Atlanta.