DURHAM, N.C. — The Clemson softball team dropped the first game of the series, 10-2, in six innings to No. 12 Duke on Friday evening. The loss snapped the Tigers’ four-game losing streak.

With the loss, the Tigers fell to 31-18 (12-10 ACC), while the league-leading Blue Devils improved to 37-12 (19-3 ACC).

Freshman Mac Pavese finished with a solo home run, and junior Kylee Johnson provided an RBI single for Clemson’s lone runs of the game. Sophomore Marian Collins and freshman Sarah Breaux rounded out the Tigers’ hits with two singles.

The Blue Devils struck first, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. They scored off of a single, sac fly, and fielding error. 

Clemson responded in the second as Johnson singled to left field and sent Marian Collins, who singled earlier that inning, home from second to get the Tigers their first run of the night.

The momentum for Clemson continued in the third, as Pavese hit her sixth home run of the year to cut Duke’s lead to 3-2.

The Blue Devils scored an additional run in the top of the fourth off a double to left centerfield. In the following inning, Duke increased its lead 6-2 off a double and a single. Back-to-back home runs opened the sixth inning, and a two-run shot after a pitching change solidified the 10-2 win for the Blue Devils. 

Sierra Maness fell to 16-9 in the circle after pitching two innings. Freshman Lexie Hames made her 13th appearance of 2026 and struck out three in three innings of work. Junior Julia Knowler made her collegiate debut in the circle and faced two batters.

Up Next 

The Tigers continue the series at Duke on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon on ESPN2.

–courtesy Clemson Athletic Communications