Clemson Routs Paladins in Home Opener

Tigers cruise to 9-1 victory over Furman in first game at McWhorter Stadium

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Clemson Tigers softball team opened their home schedule with a dominant 9-1 victory over the Furman Paladins on Tuesday night. Jamison Brockenbrough and Marian Collins hit early home runs to give Clemson a 3-0 lead, and the Tigers never looked back, extending the advantage to 8-1 by the third inning before Kiley Channell ended the game with a home run in the fifth due to the mercy rule.

Why it matters

After a slow start to the season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, this decisive home-opening win gives the 18th-ranked Tigers momentum heading into the heart of their schedule. The game also showcased Clemson's offensive firepower, with four different players driving in runs.

The details

Brockenbrough led off the game with a solo home run, and Collins followed with a two-run shot to give Clemson an early 3-0 lead. Furman got on the board with a solo homer in the second, but the Tigers responded with three more runs in the bottom half to extend the advantage to 6-1. Ava Wilson and Julia Knowler added RBIs later in the game before Channell's walk-off homer ended it in the fifth inning.

  • Jamison Brockenbrough opened the game with a home run in the bottom of the first inning.
  • Marian Collins hit a two-run home run later in the first inning.
  • Katie Peeler hit a solo home run for Furman in the top of the second inning.
  • Clemson scored three more runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 6-1 lead.
  • Kiley Channell hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game due to the mercy rule.

The players

Jamison Brockenbrough

Clemson outfielder who hit a leadoff home run to open the game.

Marian Collins

Clemson infielder who hit a two-run home run in the first inning.

Katie Peeler

Furman outfielder who hit a solo home run in the second inning.

Kiley Channell

Clemson infielder who hit the game-ending home run in the fifth inning.

Julia Knowler

Clemson infielder who drove in a run with a two-out single in the third inning.

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What they’re saying

“After a weekend that saw No. 18 Clemson get off to slow start after slow start in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, it was a refreshing start.”

— Will Vandervort, Author (theclemsoninsider.com)

The takeaway

Clemson's decisive home-opening victory over Furman showcased the Tigers' offensive firepower and provided a much-needed boost after a slow start to the season. With contributions from multiple players, this win should give the 18th-ranked team momentum as they look to build on their 4-2 record.