Clemson got three hits from Alex Brown and two from Maddie Moore, while Julia Knowler and Marian Collins drove in two runs each, as No. 11 Clemson beat No. 6 Texas, 7-4, Thursday in Game 1 of the Austin (Texas) Super Regional at McCombs Field in Austin, Texas.

The win was the Tigers’ first in a Super Regional, and it brings the program within one victory of advancing to their first Women’s College World Series. Clemson owns a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

“We have had quite a run in the last month and a half,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said. “You just never know in a hostile environment, against a good Texas team, how your team is going to respond.”

After falling behind 1-0, due to giving up an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, Clemson responded with a big third inning. The Tigers scored three runs on three hits and a Texas error.

After Brown and Moore started the inning with back-to-back singles, Macey Cintron hit into a fielder’s choice, but Texas’ Katie Stewart muffed the ball, allowing Brown to score from third to tie the game at 1-1.

Catcher Aby Vieira then loaded the bases with an infield hit, setting up Collins, who smoked a double off the wall in leftfield to score two runs, as Clemson grabbed a 3-1 lead.

Texas (48-11) scored a run in the bottom of the third thanks to a Mia Scott’s home run to leftfield. The Longhorns then started their fifth inning with a single and double off Clemson starter Reese Basinger. Reliever Brooke McCubbin, however, got Scott to pop up to short for the first out.

After intentionally walking Reese Atwood, McCubbin induced Stewart to fly out to centerfield, and centerfielder Jamison Brockenbrough threw Ashton Maloney out at the plate to end the inning.

Clemson (48-12) loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth inning before Moore singled through the left side to score Kylee Johnson. Julia Knowler then doubled to the gap in right centerfield to plate two more runs for a 6-2 lead.

Moore later scored on fielder’s choice from Vieira at second base to add to the lead.

Texas rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Longhorns loaded the bases with two outs. Facing an 0-2 count, Kayden Henry singled up the middle to score two runs, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 7-4.

However, they got no closer as McCubbin retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure her fifth save of the season.

Basinger (18-5) earned the win. She pitched four innings, allowing just two runs on six hits. McCubbin allowed two runs on two hits in three innings of work.

The Tigers have now won their last 11 games.

“I thought Reese was outstanding against their offense,” Rittman said. “I know she gave up a couple of hits and gave up a couple of runs, but our offense had her back and we put the ball in play, and that was our plan against (Teagan) Kavan.”

Weird Start

Thursday’s game got off to a weird start. Brown led off the game with a base hit, while Moore fell behind 0-2 in her first at-bat. At that point, the umpires had to delay the game due to lightning in the area.

The game was officially delayed for an hour and 33 minutes, as it restarted at 10:40 p.m. EST. The game was not completed until 1:24 a.m. EST.

“You never know how your team is going to come out after that,” Rittman said. “But they were nice and relaxed in the locker room, having fun and watching our baseball team get a big win against NC State.”

Up Next

Clemson and Texas will battle in Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional on Friday. First pitch is set for 9 p.m. EST. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

–photo courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications