2024 Clemson Tigers softball team American college softball season
The 2024 Clemson Tigers softball team was the varsity college softball team that represented Clemson University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season . This was the fifth season of Clemson's softball program. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by head coach John Rittman . Clemson played its home games at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina .
The Tigers started the season with four straight wins at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, including one over fifteenth-ranked Oregon . They would lose the final game of the tournament against Missouri and fall from fifth to eighth in the rankings. The Tigers finished 2–1 in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge as two of the games were cancelled due to weather. They won four games in the Clemson Classic before dropping a game to fifth-ranked Georgia in eight innings to finish February. In March, the Tigers won an ACC series against NC State before falling to eighth-ranked Tennessee . They went 4–1 in the Tiger Invitational, before winning ACC series against North Carolina and Boston College but dropping a series against Virginia . They also lost a rivalry matchup at home against twenty-third ranked South Carolina . They would avenge the loss at South Carolina on April 9th. They swept an ACC series against Syracuse before being swept by Duke . They finished the season by winning two ACC series 2–1 against Notre Dame and Louisville .
The Tigers finished the season 35–19 and 15–9 in ACC to finish in a tie for fourth place. As the fifth seed in the ACC Tournament they earned a bye into the Quarterfinals where they defeated Virginia, before losing to Duke in the Semifinals. The Tigers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and were placed in the Tuscaloosa regional. They lost to Southeastern Louisiana before defeating USC Upstate . They could not overcome a second elimination game and lost again to Southeastern Louisiana to end their season.
Previous Season
The Tigers finished the regular season 45–8 and 18–6 in ACC play to finish in third place. As the third seed in the ACC Tournament , they earned a bye into the Quarter finals where the defeated North Carolina before losing to Duke in the Semifinals. The Tigers were selected, via at-large bid, as the sixteenth overall seed in the NCAA Tournament . They hosted a regional and were placed into the Norman Super Regional . They defeated UNC Greensboro and Auburn to earn a spot in the final of the Regional. They lost to Auburn in the first game, but won the second time to advance to the Super Regional. The Tigers lost both games to the eventual national champions Oklahoma Sooners in Norman to end their season.
Personnel
Roster
2024 Clemson Tigers softball team
Players
Coaches
#
Pos.
Name
Bats/throws
Height
Year
Home town
00
C
Marena Knowles
L/L
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
So
Hawkinsville, GA
1
OF
Kennedy Ariail
R/R
5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Fr
Cumming, GA
2
RHP
Brooke McCubbin
R/R
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Jr
Locust Grove, GA
3
OF
Kylee Johnson
R/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Fr
Wesley Chapel, FL
4
C
Aby Vieira
L/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Jr
Mission Viejo, CA
5
INF
Lindsey Garcia
R/R
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
GS
Coral Springs, FL
6
OF
Julia Bomhardt
L/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
GS
Dasboro, DE
7
OF
McKenzie Clark
R/R
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Sr
Myakka City, FL
8
INF
Grace Hiller
R/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
RS So
Macon, GA
10
C
Riley Burton
R/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Fr
Lancaster, SC
11
INF
Haylee Whitesides
R/R
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
RS Fr
Duncan, SC
12
INF
Julia Knowler
L/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Fr
Fort Myers, FL
13
C
Abi Stuart
R/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
RS Jr
Snow Camp, NC
16
OF
Alia Logoleo
R/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
RS Sr
Nashville, TN
19
RHP
Regan Spencer
R/R
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
Sr
Lexington, NC
21
OF
Jadeyn Ruszkowski
L/L
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
RS So
Lithia, FL
23
C
JoJo Hyatt
R/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
RS Sr
Buford, GA
24
INF
Arielle Oda
L/R
5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
RS Sr
Buford, GA
25
U
Alex Brown
L/R
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Jr
Savannah, GA
28
INF
Maddie Moore
R/R
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Jr
Loomis, CA
44
LHP
Olivia Duncan
R/L
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Fr
Buford, GA
72
RHP
Valerie Cagle
L/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
RS Sr
Yorktown, VA
87
LHP
Millie Thompson
L/L
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Sr
Bedford, VA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Current redshirt
Roster Last update: April 12, 2024
Schedule
Legend
Clemson win
Clemson loss
Cancellation
Bold
Clemson team member
*
Non-Conference game
†
Make-Up Game
2024 Clemson Tigers softball game log[ 2]
Regular Season
February (11–3)
Date
Time (ET )
Opponent
Rank
Site/Stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Overall Record
ACC Record
Feb 8
7:00 p.m.
vs. Missouri State *
No. 5
Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic)
W 12–0 (5)
McCubbin (1–0)
Johnston (0–1)
None
N/A
1–0
–
Feb 9
7:00 p.m.
vs. Indiana *
No. 5
Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic)
W 3–2
Thompson (1–0)
Copeland (1–1)
Cagle (1)
323
2–0
–
Feb 10
4:00 p.m.
vs. Liberty *
No. 5
Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic)
W 7–3
McCubbin (2–0)
Love (0–1)
None
453
3–0
–
Feb 10
7:00 p.m.
vs. No. 15 Oregon *
No. 5
Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic)
W 3–2
Cagle (1–0)
Scott (1–1)
None
622
4–0
–
Feb 11
1:00 a.m.
vs. Missouri *
No. 5
Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic)
L 1–4
Krings (3–0)
McCubbin (2–1)
None
573
4–1
–
Feb 14
12:00 p.m.
vs. Wichita State *
No. 8
Nancy Almaraz Field • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta College Challenge)
W 7–0
Cagle (2–0)
Cooper (0–1)
None
231
5–1
–
Feb 14
2:30 p.m.
vs. UC San Diego *
No. 8
Nancy Almaraz Field • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta College Challenge)
W 6–4
McCubbin (3–1)
Williams (0–1)
Cagle (2)
187
6–1
–
Feb 16
7:00 p.m.
vs. Utah *
No. 8
Nancy Almaraz Field • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta College Challenge)
Cancelled
Feb 17
4:00 p.m.
vs. No. 25 Auburn *
No. 8
Nancy Almaraz Field • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta College Challenge)
Cancelled
Feb 17
9:30 p.m.
vs. Mississippi State *
No. 8
Nancy Almaraz Field • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta College Challenge)
L 3–6
Wesley (3–0)
Cagle (2–1)
None
312
6–2
–
Feb 21
6:00 p.m.
at Charlotte *
No. 9
Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC
W 8–5
McCubbin (4–1)
Elkins (2–2)
None
950
7–2
–
Feb 23
4:00 p.m.
Ole Miss *
No. 9
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic)
W 9–1 (6)
Cagle (3–1)
Kliethermes (4–1)
None
2,049
8–2
–
Feb 24
1:30 p.m.
Miami (OH) *
No. 9
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic)
W 10–1 (5)
McCubbin (5–1)
Hitchcock (2–1)
None
1,522
9–2
–
Feb 24
4:00 p.m.
Connecticut *
No. 9
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic)
W 3–2 (8)
Cagle (4–1)
O'Neil (1–3)
None
2,116
10–2
–
Feb 25
12:30 p.m.
Ole Miss*
No. 9
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic)
W 5–0
Cagle (5–1)
Furbush (1–1)
None
1,766
11–2
–
Feb 28
5:00 p.m.
at No. 5 Georgia *
No. 8
Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA
L 1–2 (8)
Backes (4–0)
Cagle (5–2)
None
864
11–3
–
March (13–7)
Date
Time (ET )
Opponent
Rank
Site/Stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Overall Record
ACC Record
Mar 2
1:00 p.m.
NC State
No. 8
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 1–6
Weixlmann (6–1)
McCubbin (5–2)
None
1,868
11–4
0–1
Mar 2
3:00 p.m.
NC State
No. 8
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 8–0 (5)
Cagle (6–2)
Wyman (3–2)
None
1,973
12–4
1–1
Mar 3
12:00 p.m.
NC State
No. 8
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 14–9
Spencer (1–0)
Inscoe (3–2)
McCubbin (1)
1,832
13–4
2–1
Mar 5
6:00 p.m.
No. 8 Tennessee *
No. 10
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 1–2 (9)
Pickens (8–2)
Cagle (6–3)
None
1,883
13–5
–
Mar 7
4:00 p.m.
Minnesota *
No. 10
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational)
L 3–5 (9)
Enter (6–3)
Cagle (6–4)
None
1,678
13–6
–
Mar 7
6:00 p.m.
Minnesota*
No. 10
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational)
W 3–1
Spencer (2–0)
Richardson (0–1)
None
1,698
14–6
–
Mar 8
6:00 p.m.
Mercer *
No. 10
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational)
W 7–2
Thompson (2–0)
Pitts (1–3)
None
1,761
15–6
–
Mar 9
6:00 p.m.
Longwood *
No. 10
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational)
W 9–1 (6)
Cagle (7–4)
Chapin (7–6)
None
1,912
16–6
–
Mar 10
12:30 p.m.
Fordham *
No. 10
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational)
W 12–0
Spencer (3–0)
Simcoe (0–4)
None
1,842
17–6
–
Mar 13
6:00 p.m.
Gardner–Webb *
No. 12
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 8–0 (5)
Thompson (3–0)
Lyon (8–3)
None
1,702
18–6
–
Mar 15
6:00 p.m.
North Carolina
No. 12
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 5–0
Spencer (4–0)
Harris (5–3)
None
1,826
19–6
3–1
Mar 16
1:00 p.m.
North Carolina
No. 12
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 4–1
Thompson (4–0)
Dark (4–1)
None
1,916
20–6
4–1
Mar 17
7:00 p.m.
North Carolina
No. 12
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 9–1 (5)
McCubbin (6–2)
Rogers (8–1)
None
1,769
21–6
5–1
Mar 20
6:00 p.m.
No. 23 South Carolina *
No. 11
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Rivalry )
L 4–6 (12)
Vawter (8–4)
Thompson (4–1)
None
1,867
21–7
–
Mar 22
5:00 p.m.
at Virginia
No. 11
Palmer Park • Charlottesville, VA
L 4–6
Marris (5–1)
Cagle (7–5)
Eigham (2)
702
21–8
5–2
Mar 23
1:00 p.m.
at Virginia
No. 11
Palmer Park • Charlottesville, VA
W 5–1
Spencer (5–0)
Bigham (7–6)
None
1,122
22–8
6–2
Mar 24
12:00 p.m.
at Virginia
No. 11
Palmer Park • Charlottesville, VA
L 0–3
Harris (6–1)
Thompson (4–2)
None
1,019
22–9
6–3
Mar 26
5:00 p.m.
Georgia State *
No. 16
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
Cancelled [ 3]
Mar 28
6:00 p.m.
Boston College
No. 16
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 10–2 (5)
Spencer (6–0)
Dunning (9–6)
None
1,764
23–9
7–3
Mar 29
1:00 p.m.
Boston College
No. 16
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 0–4
Dunning (10–6)
Thompson (4–3)
None
1,914
23–10
7–4
Mar 30
12:00 p.m.
Boston College
No. 16
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 10–0 (5)
McCubbin (7–2)
Pappion (7–4)
Spencer (1)
2,116
24–10
8–4
April (9–6)
Date
Time (ET )
Opponent
Rank
Site/Stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Overall Record
ACC Record
Apr 2
6:00 p.m.
Furman *
No. 17
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 3–4
L. Scott (7–2)
Thompson (4–4)
None
1,819
24–11
–
Apr 6
4:00 p.m.
at Syracuse
No. 17
Softball Stadium at Skytop • Syracuse, NY
W 13–2 (5)
Spencer (7–0)
Hendrix (7–3)
None
153
25–11
9–4
Apr 7
10:00 a.m.
at Syracuse
No. 17
Softball Stadium at Skytop • Syracuse, NY
W 10–1 (6)
Thompson (5–4)
Lewinski (2–6)
None
174
26–11
10–4
Apr 7
12:00 p.m.
at Syracuse
No. 17
Softball Stadium at Skytop • Syracuse, NY
W 7–1
McCubbin (8–2)
Knight (3–5)
None
27–11
11–4
Apr 9
6:00 p.m.
at No. 23 South Carolina*
No. 19
Beckham Field • Columbia, SC (Rivalry)
W 7–0
Spencer (8–0)
Mardjetko (6–6)
Thompson (1)
2,055
28–11
–
Apr 12
6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Duke
No. 19
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 9–13
Walker (10–1)
Spencer (8–1)
None
1,915
28–12
11–5
Apr 13
1:00 p.m.
No. 3 Duke
No. 19
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 3–4
Wright (13–1)
Thompson (5–5)
Walker (3)
2,116
28–13
11–6
Apr 14
12:00 p.m.
No. 3 Duke
No. 19
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
L 1–6
Curd (8–2)
Spencer (8–2)
Wright (1)
1,940
28–14
11–7
Apr 16
6:00 p.m.
Winthrop *
No. 21
McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC
W 4–0
McCubbin (9–2)
Basinger (9–13)
None
1,592
29–14
–
Apr 19
5:00 p.m.
at Notre Dame
No. 21
Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, IN
W 8–5 (10)
McCubbin (10–2)
Kastor (8–8)
None
438
30–14
12–7
Apr 20
1:00 p.m.
at Notre Dame
No. 21
Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, IN
W 11–6
Cagle 8–5
Laudenslager (9–7)
None
534
31–14
13–7
Apr 21
6:00 p.m.
at Notre Dame
No. 21
Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, IN
L 5–6
Becker (7–5)
Spencer (8–3)
None
312
31–15
13–8
Apr 26
6:00 p.m.
at Louisville
No. 22
Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KY
W 6–5
Thompson (6–5)
Zabala (18–13)
None
356
32–15
14–8
Apr 27
1:00 p.m.
at Louisville
No. 22
Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KY
L 3–6
Booe (3–3)
Cagle 8–6
None
389
32–16
14–9
Apr 28
12:00 p.m.
at Louisville
No. 22
Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KY
W 11–5
Spencer (9–3)
Zabala (18–14)
None
446
33–16
15–9
Postseason
ACC Tournament (1–1)
Date
Time (ET )
Seed
Rank
Opponent
Opponent Seed
Site/Stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Overall Record
May 9
1:30 p.m.
5
No. 23
vs. Virginia
4
Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, North Carolina
W 8–1
Spencer (10–3)
Layne (3–2)
None
327
34–16
May 10
1:00 p.m.
5
No. 23
at No. 4 Duke
1
Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, North Carolina
L 3–4 (10)
Walker (12–2)
Spencer (10–4)
None
726
34–17
NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional (1–2)
Date
Time (ET )
Seed
Rank
Opponent
Opponent Seed
Site/Stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Overall Record
May 17
2:00 p.m.
2
No. 23
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
3
Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama
L 2–6
DuBois (15–5)
Cagle (8–7)
None
2,184
34–18
May 18
2:00 p.m.
2
No. 23
vs. USC Upstate
4
Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama
W 8–0 (6)
Spencer (11–4)
Drerup (10–10)
None
2,217
35–18
May 18
9:00 p.m.
2
No. 23
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
3
Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama
L 2–6
DuBois (16–5)
McCubbin (10–3)
None
2,217
35–19
Note: All rankings shown are from the NFCA/USA Today poll.
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final NFCA / USA Today 5 8 9 8 10 12 11 16 17 19 21 22 23 23 23 RV Softball America 5 6 9 9 10 16 13 21 20 25 — — — — —* — ESPN.com/USA Softball 7 7 9 9 11 14 11 16 17 19 20т 21 22 21 21 24 D1Softball 7 10 10 10 11 13 11 15 15 19 22 — — — —* —
Various polls did not release during the NCAA tournament . * indicates that the ranking is from pre-tournament for comparison purposes.
References