Brooke McCubbin was playing with a heavy heart during Clemson’s 2-1 win over South Carolina on Tuesday.

The senior righthander was pitching under “tough circumstances,” as Clemson head coach John Rittman revealed following the No. 15 Tigers’ rivalry victory over the ninth-ranked Gamecocks at Clemson’s McWhorter Stadium.

“Just an outstanding effort from Brooke. … Her grandmother passed away (Monday) morning, and we’ve been doing a lot of praying with her and kind of helping her,” Rittman said. “It’s tough when you’re a senior in college and you lose your grandma. We just really talked to her about compartmentalizing, and I thought she was outstanding.”

Indeed she was.

After coming in for starter Reese Basinger to start the fifth inning, McCubbin earned the win and improved to 10-5 overall this season with a 2.90 ERA.

McCubbin pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out one.

The Locust Grove, Ga., native faced 19 batters and recorded 15 outs — one strikeout, seven flyouts and seven groundouts.

McCubbin was understandably emotional prior to Tuesday’s game, but managed those emotions and put together a performance her grandmother would certainly be proud of.

“Before the game, she had a lot of emotions. But when she went in, she just did an outstanding job,” Rittman said. “I know her grandma is looking over her today, and just a huge win for Brooke and so proud for her.”