CLEMSON — When Maddie Moore first visited Clemson, as a junior in high school, Clemson did not even have a softball stadium.

McWhorter Stadium was in the process of being built and John Rittman’s softball camp was being held behind baseball’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium on the small infield turf.

“I remember it being so hot and it was my first experience being in South Carolina,” Moore said following the Tigers’ 5-1 victory over Kentucky on Sunday in the Clemson (NCAA) Softball Regional Championship. “It was a weird experience. But I loved it here, so it was not very hard to convince me to come here.”

It’s a good thing Rittman did. Though she is a very proud California girl, Moore has loved her time at Clemson, especially on Sunday when her and her teammates won Clemson another regional championship.

It was even more special for Moore, who helped send the Tigers to their third Super Regional in her last game at McWhorter Stadium.

“I love Clemson so much and I love McWhorter,” she said. “When I came here for my first camp, it was not even built, yet. It is kind of awesome to see everything. It is a full-circle moment for me. I am excited that I got to win regionals at McWhorter, which a lot of people can’t say.

“I am really grateful and proud that I was able to do it with Team 6.”

Not only did she do it with Team 6, Moore is a big reason why the Tigers are traveling to their third Super Regional in the five years the NCAA Tournament has been held in their six-year existence.

Moore is hitting .417 and leads the team with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs. On Sunday, the senior went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Sunday marked the third time Moore has experienced winning an NCAA Regional during her time at Clemson. She was also on the 2022 and 2023 teams that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals.

“What I think makes this team special is that we got to see it grow from the beginning and see how we all just controlled what we could and let the defense work and let the offense work,” Moore said. “If neither was working, we knew somebody was going to pick it up. So, this year has been a lot about relinquishing trust and being okay that today is not going to be my day. It is going to be Marian’s (Collins) game today or it’s not going to be Marian’s, it’s going to be Taylor’s (Pipkins), yada, yada, yada.

“Just being able to control what you can and not think too big about it. Don’t try to be the hero with one swing. Have fun and play loose because the twenty-one other girls are going to have your back.”

Moore and her teammates where definitely playing loose against Kentucky. After Clemson grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the senior was dancing in the infield prior to the start of the Wildcats’ at-bat in the third.

“We have gotten the name ‘Cardiac Kids’ for a reason,” Moore said. “I have all the faith in the world with this team. We never quit, we never give up, we never say die, so I mean I had all the confidence in the world with this team.

“There is not a second in the game where I felt we might lose it, or we were in trouble. Playing loose is fun, so we like to have a lot of fun and play loose.”