How Clemson softball's eighth inning put Women's College World Series bid on hold
Marian Collins and Taylor Pipkins both hit no-out singles in the eighth inning, then advanced to third and second base, respectively, after a wild pitch. But Clemson's offense stalled, putting that coveted flight on pause, as Kylee Johnson struck out, Jamison Brockenbrough lined out and Alex Brown grounded out to end the inning in heartbreaking fashion
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"There's so many ways you can score from third base, and you're hoping that one of three hitters gets the job done there," Clemson coach John Rittman said. " . . . It's just unfortunate we couldn't get it in, but that's softball."
The lull led to No. 11 overall seed Clemson's 7-5 loss on May 23 to No. 6 Texas in Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional at Red and Charline McCombs Field. The Longhorns (50-12) forced a winner-take-all Game 3 on May 24 (9 p.m. ET).
The moment was tailor-made for Clemson (48-13), but it could not capitalize. The Longhorns had no answer for closer Brooke McCubbin, who entered in the fifth, allowing two runs in the inning, but held them scoreless the next three innings, including a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and eighth.
Still, Johnson, Brockenbrough and Brown did not attempt to bunt and could not put the ball in play deep enough to send Collins home for the winning run, which would have been Clemson's 12th walk-off win this season and its second straight upset win in Austin.
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"We certainly had opportunities, you're this close and you gotta be able to put the nail in the coffin, and we didn't do that tonight," Rittman said. "Against a good Texas team, you're going to pay the price for that."
The bill came due for Clemson as Texas ace pitcher Teagan Kavan, who entered in relief in the fourth inning, developed immense confidence. After escaping the eighth-inning jam, she proceeded to record three strikeouts, force two flyouts and a fielder's choice and allow two base hits and a walk in the final two innings to keep Clemson scoreless.
Clemson had 13 hits but left 11 runners on base and was 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and 4-for-19 with runners on.
As Clemson's offense stalled, Texas' came alive in the 10th inning, getting after McCubbin as she exceeded 100 pitches. She allowed a leadoff single, and a second player got on base thanks to a fielding error by Collins. A sacrifice bunt advanced both, and Kaydee Bennett's RBI sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run.
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Clemson had its chance to finish off Texas for good, but its miscues snapped its 11-game winning streak and has given the Longhorns life. Now, the Tigers will play in the biggest game in the program's six years of existence for the right to go to the Women's College World Series.
"I told them, 'Listen, in February, when we were 3-6, if you said we can be in Texas, and we can play one game to see who goes to the World Series, would you guys take it?' and they all agreed," Rittman said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson softball: How Tigers blew opportunity to make WCWS vs Texas
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