Clemson Blows 6-run Lead in Loss to Cardinals

Louisville rallies from a 6-0 deficit to defeat No. 24 Clemson 7-6 in ACC softball action.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:34pm

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Clemson built a 6-0 lead through five innings, but Louisville scored five runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to complete the comeback victory over the Tigers. Marian Collins and Mac Pavese had big hits for Clemson, but the Cardinals rallied late to steal the win.

Why it matters

This loss is a tough blow for the 19-9 Clemson Tigers, who were looking to build on their 4-2 ACC record. The comeback win for Louisville shows the resilience of the 20-7 Cardinals, who have now won 3 of their first 6 ACC games.

The details

Clemson jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to RBI hits from Marian Collins, Mac Pavese, and Kiley Channell. However, Louisville stormed back with a 5-run sixth inning, capped by a 2-run homer from pinch hitter Ava Venturelli. The Cardinals then scored twice more in the seventh to complete the comeback win.

  • Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
  • Clemson extended its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
  • Louisville scored 5 runs in the top of the sixth inning to make it 6-5.
  • Louisville scored 2 more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead.

The players

Marian Collins

Clemson player who hit a double to score two runs in the fifth inning.

Mac Pavese

Clemson player who had a two-run single in the fifth inning.

Kiley Channell

Clemson shortstop who was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Camryn Lookadoo

Louisville player who tripled to tie the game in the seventh inning.

Ava Venturelli

Louisville pinch hitter who hit a 2-run homer in the sixth inning.

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What’s next

Clemson will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they visit Western Carolina at 5 p.m.

The takeaway

This game showcases the unpredictability and drama of college softball, with Clemson blowing a big lead only to see Louisville mount an impressive late-inning rally to steal the victory.