Clemson Routs Paladins in Home Opener
By: Will Vandervort February 10, 2026

CLEMSON — Jamison Brockenbrough opened Tuesday night’s game against Furman with a home run to right centerfield.

After a weekend that saw No. 18 Clemson get off to slow start after slow start in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, it was a refreshing start. Marian Collins added a two-run shot a few batters later, as the Tigers cruised to a a 9-1 victory over the Paladins in their home opener at McWhorter Stadium.

“It was definitely huge, just trying to reboot and revamp from this weekend,” Collins said afterwards. “Our goal was to score first and get that first run on the board. It definitely felt good.”

Kiley Channell homered to left centerfield in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.

For the first time in this young season, Clemson scored before its opponent. The Tigers plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, as Brockenbrough led off the game for Clemson with a solo home run to right centerfield, her second of the year, and Collins lined a homer to left centerfield.

Clemson’s Jamison Brockenbrough celebrates her first inning home run in the Tigers’ 9-1 victory over Furman Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

Collins’ home run was of the two-run variety.

“I was kidding with our freshman (pitcher) Keira Crosby. She had the lead-off hitter 0-2 and then she hit her with an 0-2 pitch, and I go, ‘Here we go again!’ No, it was nice to not be down three runs in the first inning,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said with a laugh. “I felt like every game this weekend we were down early and had to fight back and it put a little pressure on us offensively.

“We responded well tonight. Like I said, it is early in the season and I love the way some of our young players are stepping up.”

The Paladins (0-6) answered with a solo shot in the top of the second inning, as Katie Peeler launched a shot to straightaway center for her team’s only run of the night. It was also the only hit Clemson pitching allowed in the five-inning affair.

Furman’s only other baserunner came from a Clemson error.

The Tigers (4-2) extended their led to 6-1 in the bottom of second inning. Julia Knowler, Collins and Mac Pavese all drew two-out walks with the bases loaded to extend the lead.

Ava Wilson added an RBI in the bottom of the third for a 7-1 lead. Knowler then singled through the hole at short with two outs, scoring Kiley Channell for an 8-1 advantage.

Abby Dunning, who came on in relief Crosby with one out in the third inning, earned the win in the circle. She improves to 3-1 on the young season. Olivia Duncan came on in the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless inning.

At the plate, Sarah Breaux was 2-for-2 with two doubles. Collins finished the night with 3 RBIs, while Knowler drove in two runs.

“Certainly, we are a very talented team,” Rittman said. “Hopefully, we can keep this going with a big weekend coming up.”

UP NEXT

The Tigers will look to build on the win, as they head to San Marcos, Texas to play in the Bobcat Tournament this coming weekend. Clemson will open against Texas State on Thursday in the first of five games in four days. The Tigers and Bobcats will start at 6 p.m.