CLEMSON — Clemson can thank Marian Collins if it gets to host another NCAA Regional in a few weeks.

The Clemson shortstop caught a 1-2 pitch from South Carolina pitcher Sam Gress in the bottom of the ninth inning and sent it to deep left centerfield to lift No. 15 Clemson to a stunning 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the ninth-ranked Gamecocks.

It was Collins’ second home run of the night. The first tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to force extra innings.

“I just tried to slow the moment down and do whatever was best for my team,” she said.

The Gamecocks (32-11) came into Tuesday’s game ranked No. 3 in the RPI and Clemson was No. 17. Tuesday’s win, coupled with the Tigers series’ win at No. 14 Stanford on April 6, puts them squarely in the conversation to host a regional next month in the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson (35-11) now has 14 Quad 1 victories this season.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but we have certainly put ourselves in position to be at least in the talk to host,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said.

Early on, things did not look good for the Tigers. South Carolina’s Arianna Rodi gave the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a two-out home run to right centerfield.

After failing to score in the bottom of the third and fifth innings due to great plays from Carolina outfielders Emily Vinson and Quincee Lilio, the Tigers finally evened things, 1-1, when Collins smacked a two-out solo home run of her own to left centerfield.

“Boy, that was a big one to tie the game,” Rittman said.

Before Collins’ game-tying home run, the Tigers had a couple opportunities to tie or take the lead. After Rodi’s home run, Clemson had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of third. Julia Knowler launched a bomb to left field on a Gress offering. However, Vinson climbed the wall and made a spectacular catch to rob Knowler of a home run.

In the fifth, Knowler was again at the dish, this time with the bases loaded and one out, when she hit what appeared to be a sacrifice fly to centerfield. However this time, Lilio threw out Taylor Pipkins at home plate with a perfect throw up the line to double up the Tigers and preserve the Gamecocks’ 1-0 lead at the time.

“We just could not get that timely hit,” Rittman said.

But the Tigers got it in the bottom of the ninth inning. Collins unloaded on Gress’ 1-2 offering and sent it over the wall in leftfield. It was a big moment for the freshman.

“It was a great moment,” Collins said. “They are a great program, too. It always going to be a good game.”

Like Gress and USC starter Jori Heard, Clemson got solid pitching performances, too. Though she gave up seven hits, starter Reese Basinger was able to hold Carolina to the one run through four innings of work.

Brooke McCubbin then came on in the fifth and held the Gamecocks at bay. The senior allowed just two hits in five innings of work to earn the win.

“I just trusted my defense,” McCubbin said. “I feel like I was pitching free and knowing that helped me stay focused and locked in.”

The win allowed Clemson to even the series against South Carolina. The Gamecocks won the first game between the two rivals on March 25 in Columbia.

Up Next

Clemson hosts Boston College in its final ACC home series beginning on Thursday at 6 p.m.