Tonight the Clemson Tigers softball team will be in the most pressured situation that they have faced all season.
Clemson Tigers Softball Looks to Bounce Back in Decisive Game 3
The Clemson Tigers Softball team finds itself in a do-or-die situation tonight against Texas in the Austin Super Regional. After a gritty Game 1 win on Thursday night, where they tagged Texas ace Teagan Kavan and found big hits in clutch moments, the Tigers came up short in Game 2. Texas responded with a 7-5 victory, as Kavan found redemption and the Longhorns forced a winner-take-all Game 3.
This Clemson squad, though, has never been one to back down. They’ve battled all season, and tonight’s the chance to show that grit and determination once again.
As head coach John Rittman said after last night’s game, “This team has a lot of grit. They play free and play for each other.” That mindset has defined Clemson all year, and it’ll be front and center tonight in Austin. Texas will have the crowd behind them, but the Tigers have shown they won’t be rattled. Rittman kept it simple: “There’s still a game to be played. So we gotta flush tonight away pretty quickly and get our mind ready for another battle tomorrow, and I am pretty confident we will do that.”
The time is now and there is no tomorrow guaranteed. It’s all about surviving and advance starting tonight. The season is on the line, and the Tigers are ready for the challenge.
Back to Basics
Clemson knows where it went wrong in Game 2, missed opportunities and defensive miscues. The Tigers had their chances, but left runners stranded in scoring position and committed two errors that Texas capitalized on.
That can’t happen tonight. Clemson needs timely hits, smart base running, and clean defense. They’ve shown they can handle the Texas pitching staff, Thursday night’s win proved that, and they’ll need to get back to that approach.
It’s also about trusting the talent that’s been there all season. Players like Maddie Moore, Julia Knowler, Aby Vieira, and Alex Brown; with help from the super freshmen will have to lock in mentally and skill wise also, while the pitching duo of Reese Basinger and Brooke McCubbin must stay locked in. Clemson has the tools, it’s about execution in the biggest moment.
Basinger and McCubbin have been locked in throughout the season, often stifling offenses known for hitting; see the ACC Championship game as an example. The pressure is high, but they must feed off of that and use it as a boost and not a hindrance. I often wonder in the game of softball how teams will fare when seeing the same arms for consecutive games.
Tonight we will get our answer for the Tigers’ pitching duo, as Longhorn players like Atwood and Goode will be seeing them for a third night in a row. Both homered in last night’s game.
The Stage is Set, you have one chance
Tonight is what postseason softball is all about. One game. Win or go home. The winner punches their ticket to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, while the other’s season comes to an end.
For Clemson, it’s a chance to make program history with their first-ever WCWS appearance. For Texas, it’s about defending home turf and proving they can overcome a Game One loss to win two straight, to make it back to OKC for another appearance.
Clemson Tigers Softball has shown all year they belong in the national conversation. Tonight, they have the opportunity to prove it one more time. Buckle up, Clemson fans. It’s going to be a battle. Tune in to ESPN at 9 PM EDT, and cheer on the Tigers as they look to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City.
