It’s win or go home in game three of the Austin Super Regional. A ticket to the Women’s College World Series is on the line. No. 6 Texas rallied in the 10th inning last night to force the rubber match. Now, No. 11 Clemson needs to win to continue their season.
The center circle saw a rematch of game one’s starters. Both teams went with their trusted aces. Despite allowing a leadoff walk, Teagan Kavan for Texas came out focused. She retired seven straight Tigers.
Reese Basinger got her ninth straight start. The Longhorn lineup is becoming familiar with the ACC Pitcher of the Year. She made it through the first, but got into trouble in the second, starting with a leadoff walk. Katie Stewart was aggressive, hitting a double off the first pitch of her at-bat. This brought up Leighann Goode, who collected the two-run RBI. Head coach John Rittman decided it was time for a change. He went with dual-threat freshman Macey Cintron. Cintron had two strikeouts but allowed another run before heading to the dugout. For the third time in this series, Texas took the early lead.
Video replay came in clutch for the Tigers. Maddie Moore reached on a fielding error. Julia Knowler’s walk put Moore in scoring position. Texas’s left fielder made a throw to home off Cintron’s single. However, Moore’s tricky slide at home had her mitt on the plate before the tag was made. The Longhorns challenged the call, but the score was upheld. Clemson was on the board.
Texas continued to pound on the pressure. Stewart had a leadoff double in the third. Clemson brought in Brooke McCubbin, who has relieved in every postseason game. The Longhorn lineup did not falter. A sacrifice bunt scored Stewart, and a wild pitch cleared the bases. The burnt orange squad tacked on two more runs.
With their backs against the wall, Clemson would not go down without a fight. A double from Marian Collins got things started. Haylee Whitesides came in to pinch hit for Kylee Johnson. In the 8th spot, Johnson has been struggling with discipline at the plate. While Whitesides’s sacrifice fly advanced the runner, it would be Jamison Brockenbrough who collected the RBI off another sacrifice fly. With two outs, Moore’s RBI single to center field would finally end Kavan’s night. Senior Mac Morgan entered, making her first appearance of the NCAA tournament. She collected the final out as the Tigers cut their deficit to two.
Defense was Clemson’s Achilles’ heel. Fielding errors gifted Texas base pads. McCubbin couldn’t connect with Knowler on a routine throw to first. Another wild pitch allowed a runner to advance to third base. Texas capitalized on the miscues, scoring an unearned run.
Clemson kept Texas scoreless the next two innings. The Tigers needed three runs to force extra innings. Top of the order up, Alex Brown wasted no time reaching first off a fielding error. In an eight-pitch at-bat, Knowler sent one over the center field wall. The long ball made it a one-run game. This was the first hit allowed by Morgan, previously retiring the first seven batters she faced. After so many comeback wins this season, Clemson could not complete this one.
Taking an early lead, Texas remained in control. The Longhorns claimed the series with a final score of 6-5. Clemson’s season ended with a 48-14 record. Defensive errors haunted the Tigers, and their offense could not keep up with Texas’s firepower.
This squad exceeded this year’s expectations. The program collected its first super regional win and ACC Tournament Championship. Without a doubt, this is a heartbreaking loss, but the future is still bright for the Tigers.
