# 2024 Clemson Tigers softball team

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 9. 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.

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Clemson win |
| | Clemson loss |
| | Cancellation |
| Bold | Clemson team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
| † | Make-Up Game |
2024 Clemson Tigers softball game log :
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 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Feb 17 | 4:00 p.m. | vs. No. 25 Auburn* | No. 8 | Nancy Almaraz Field • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta College Challenge) | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | 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 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 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 | 174 | 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 movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | 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.