CLEMSON – When John Rittman called for a suicide squeeze in the top of the ninth inning, Clemson’s Aby Vieira had one thought.

“Don’t be early,” the senior said following the Tigers’ 1-0 victory over Northwestern in Game 3 of the Clemson (NCAA) Regional Saturday at McWhorter Stadium.

However, Vieira was not early. She timed up her jump off third base perfectly, while freshman Marian Collins executed the bunt just right between the circle and the first base line.

The end result was Vieira sliding headfirst into home plate for what turned out to be the game-winning run.

“I just trusted Marian to see it down and then I did everything I could to get home and get my hand in there. Luckily, they did not throw it there, so I got off easy on that one,” Vieira said.

There was no play at the plate because Collins laid down the bunt in the perfect place, where pitcher Lauren Boyd could not make a play on the ball.

“It was amazing,” Vieira said. “To be able to rely on the people behind me to get the job done and get me in, we manufacture runs. We find ways to get gritty wins and that was just one of them.”

Vieira set up her own score when she tripled down the rightfield line with one out. It was her first triple of the season.

“I was very surprised to see Coach (Rittman) waving his arm, and even more surprised when he told me to stand up on the base,” Vieira said. “I was definitely expecting to have to slid in there, but it was a cool feeling.”

Clemson will wait to see who moved out of the elimination bracket tonight. The Tigers need to win one game to advance to their third Super Regional overall and their first since 2023.

First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.