CLEMSON — Hitting a home run is always special for a ballplayer. Doing it against your former team, now that is a different story.

That was the case for third baseman Alex Brown during No. 13 Clemson’s 5-0 victory over North Carolina Friday at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson. On the Tigers’ second pitch of the night, she took an 0-1 offering from the Tar Heels’ Nikki Harris over the wall in right field.

“I was not expecting it, but I was really excited, to say the least,” Brown said.

Brown, who transferred to Clemson from North Carolina over the summer, finished her night 2-for-4 at the plate, while also recording or assisting on five putouts. However, nothing topped the emotions the graduate transfer was feeling as she rounded third base on her way to home plate.

“Honestly, I just looked at Coach (John) Rittman and just smiled from ear-to-ear,” she said. “I saw his excitement and I was super excited and just seeing my teammates at home being so excited for me, that was super amazing.”

Brown was a second-team All-ACC performer at UNC last season, while also earning a spot on the NFCA Southeast All-Region Team after leading the Tar Heels with a .399 average and a .438 on-base percentage. She hit. 434 in ACC play and stole 11 bases.

“Obviously, whenever you are facing your old team and friends, (it’s different),” Rittman said. “The transfer portal puts a lot of athletes in this situation now, but I thought she played really well and had fun tonight.

“I think she played stellar defensively at third base.”

As Clemson’s lead-off player, Brown is hitting .333 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. She has an on-base percentage of .375 and has three stolen bases thus far.

But there was little doubt Friday night was Brown’s best game as a Clemson Tiger, and it came against her old team.

“It was nice to see,” Rittman said. “Certainly, you want to play well when you play your old team, and she did that tonight.”

Clemson will host North Carolina in Game 2 of the three-game series on Saturday at McWhorter Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

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