The 2026 Clemson Tigers softball team is the varsity college softball team that will represent Clemson University during the 2026 NCAA Division I softball season. This will be the seventh season of Clemson's softball program. The Tigers compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and will be led by head coach John Rittman. Clemson plays its home games at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
Previous season
The Tigers finished the regular season 41–12 and 19–6 in ACC play to finish in second place, just a half game behind Florida State for first place. As the second seed in the ACC Tournament they earned a bye into the Quarterfinals where they defeated twenty-fifth ranked and seventh seed Virginia 7–4. In the semifinals they defeated third seed and thirteenth ranked Virginia Tech 10–9. They met first seed and sixth ranked Florida State in the Final, which Clemson won 2–1. This was the first ACC tournament title in Clemson program history.[2] As tournament champions, the Tigers earned an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I softball tournament. They were the eleventh overall seed and paired with sixth overall seed Texas in the Austin Super Regional. Clemson went 3–0 in their regional, defeating USC Upstate by mercy rule, Northwestern in extra innings, and Kentucky 5–1 in the final game. They advanced to face Texas in Austin. The Tigers won the opening game 7–4 but lost the next game 7–5 in ten innings to set up a deciding game three. The Tigers lost a close deciding game 6–5 to end their season. Texas would go on to win the National Championship. The Tigers finished 48–13 overall, which was just one win shy of their program record set in 2023.
Personnel
Roster
| 2026 Clemson Tigers roster[3]
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Pitchers
- 4 - Abby Dunning - Graduate student
- 7 - Sierra Maness - Junior
- 15 - Maddie Johnson - Freshman
- 16 - Macey Cintron - Sophomore
- 33 - Lexie Hames - Freshman
- 43 - Keira Crosby - Freshman
- 44 - Olivia Duncan - Junior
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Catchers
- 10 - Riley Burton - Junior
- 23 - Sophia Burmeister - Freshman
- 99 - Corri Hicks - Sophomore
Outfielders
- 1 - Kennedy Ariail - Junior
- 3 - Kylee Johnson - Junior
- 9 - Jamison Brockenbrough - Senior
- 17 - Ava Wilson - Sophomore
- 20 - Sam Minish - Sophomore
- 27 - Riley Fennell - Sophomore
- 37 - Sarah Rocheleau - Freshman
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Infielders
- 2 - Kiley Channell - Junior
- 5 - Marian Collins - Sophomore
- 8 - Madi Lardizabal - Sophomore
- 11 - Mac Pavese - Freshman
- 12 - Julia Knowler - Junior
- 22 - Taylor Pipkins - Sophomore
- 66 - Sarah Breaux - Freshman
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Coaches
| 2026 Clemson Tigers softball coaching staff[4]
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- John Rittman – Head coach – 7th season
- Kyle Jamieson – Assistant coach – 7th season
- Katie Repole – Assistant coach – 2nd season
- Ryan Wieligman – Assistant coach – 2nd season
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Schedule
| Legend
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Clemson win
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Clemson loss
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Cancellation
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| Bold |
Clemson team member
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| * |
Non-Conference game
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| † |
Make-Up Game
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| 2026 Clemson Tigers softball game log[5]
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| Regular Season
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| February
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| Date
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Time (ET)
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Opponent
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Rank
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Site/Stadium
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Score
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Win
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Loss
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Save
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Attendance
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Overall Record
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ACC Record
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| Feb 5 |
7:00 p.m. |
vs Southeastern Louisiana* |
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Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic) |
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| Feb 6 |
4:00 p.m. |
vs Oregon* |
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Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic) |
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| Feb 6 |
7:00 p.m. |
vs Liberty* |
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Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic) |
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| Feb 7 |
3:00 p.m. |
vs Auburn* |
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Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic) |
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| Feb 8 |
10:00 a.m. |
vs Michigan State* |
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Eddie C. Moore Complex • Clearwater, FL (NFCA Leadoff Classic) |
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| Feb 10 |
6:00 p.m. |
Furman* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Feb 12 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Texas State* |
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Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX (Bobcat Tournament) |
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| Feb 13 |
5:45 p.m. |
vs Arkansas* |
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Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX (Bobcat Tournament) |
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| Feb 13 |
8:00 p.m. |
vs BYU* |
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Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX (Bobcat Tournament) |
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| Feb 14 |
4:30 p.m. |
vs Wichita State* |
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Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX (Bobcat Tournament) |
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| Feb 15 |
11:00 a.m. |
vs Arkansas* |
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Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX (Bobcat Tournament) |
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| Feb 18 |
5:00 p.m. |
at Charlotte* |
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Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC |
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| Feb 20 |
12:30 p.m. |
Lipscomb* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) |
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| Feb 20 |
3:00 p.m. |
Coastal Carolina* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) |
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| Feb 21 |
3:00 p.m. |
Baylor* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) |
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| Feb 22 |
12:30 p.m. |
TBA |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson Classic) |
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| Feb 25 |
TBA |
at Georgia* |
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Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA |
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| Feb 27 |
12:30 p.m. |
Wofford* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational) |
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| Feb 27 |
3:00 p.m. |
Georgia Southern* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational) |
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| Feb 28 |
3:00 p.m. |
Mississippi State* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational) |
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| March
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| Date
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Time (ET)
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Opponent
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Rank
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Site/Stadium
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Score
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Win
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Loss
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Save
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Attendance
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Overall Record
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ACC Record
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| Mar 1 |
12:30 p.m. |
TBA |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC (Tiger Invitational) |
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| Mar 4 |
6:00 p.m. |
College of Charleston* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 6 |
6:00 p.m. |
Georgia Tech |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 7 |
1:00 p.m. |
Georgia Tech |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 8 |
6:00 p.m. |
Georgia Tech |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 10 |
6:00 p.m. |
Winthrop* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 13 |
5:00 p.m. |
Louisville* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 14 |
1:00 p.m. |
Louisville* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 15 |
12:00 p.m. |
Louisville* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 17 |
5:00 p.m. |
at Western Carolina* |
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Catamount Softball Complex • Cullowhee, NC |
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| Mar 20 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Notre Dame |
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Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, IN |
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| Mar 21 |
1:00 p.m. |
at Notre Dame |
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Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, IN |
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| Mar 22 |
12:00 p.m. |
at Notre Dame |
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Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, IN |
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| Mar 25 |
TBA |
at South Carolina* |
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Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field • Columbia, SC (Rivalry) |
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| Mar 27 |
6:00 p.m. |
Florida State |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 28 |
6:00 p.m. |
Florida State |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 29 |
6:00 p.m. |
Florida State |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Mar 31 |
6:00 p.m. |
Gardner–Webb* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| April
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| Date
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Time (ET)
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Opponent
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Rank
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Site/Stadium
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Score
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Win
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Loss
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Save
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Attendance
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Overall Record
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ACC Record
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| Apr 2 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Virginia Tech |
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Tech Softball Park • Blacksburg, VA |
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| Apr 3 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Virginia Tech |
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Tech Softball Park • Blacksburg, VA |
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| Apr 4 |
2:00 p.m. |
at Virginia Tech |
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Tech Softball Park • Blacksburg, VA |
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| Apr 10 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Pittsburgh |
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Vartabedian Field • Pittsburgh, PA |
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| Apr 11 |
3:00 p.m. |
at Pittsburgh |
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Vartabedian Field • Pittsburgh, PA |
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| Apr 12 |
1:00 p.m. |
at Pittsburgh |
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Vartabedian Field • Pittsburgh, PA |
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| Apr 14 |
6:00 p.m. |
South Carolina* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Apr 17 |
6:00 p.m. |
Virginia |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Apr 18 |
1:00 p.m. |
Virginia |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Apr 19 |
12:00 p.m. |
Virginia |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Apr 21 |
6:00 p.m. |
Presbyterian* |
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McWhorter Stadium • Clemson, SC |
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| Apr 24 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Duke |
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Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC |
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| Apr 25 |
1:00 p.m. |
at Duke |
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Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC |
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| Apr 26 |
6:00 p.m. |
at Duke |
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Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC |
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| Postseason
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| ACC Tournament
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| Date
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Time (ET)
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Seed
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Rank
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Opponent
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Opponent Seed
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Site/Stadium
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Score
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Win
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Loss
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Save
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Attendance
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Overall Record
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| May 6-9 |
TBD |
TBD |
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Palmer Park • Charlottesville, VA |
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Note: All rankings shown are from the NFCA/USA Today poll.
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References