CLEMSON, S.C. - The journey for USC Upstate Softball continues in the historic 2025 campaign as the Spartans prepare to take the field in the NCAA Clemson Regional against No. 11, Clemson University. With both opponents coming off a conference tournament championship, the Tigers and Spartans meet for the second consecutive year at NCAA Regionals where the Tigers reigned victorious over Upstate with an 8-0 win at the 2024 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. 

Friday's Matchup 

May 16, 2025| 4:30 P.M. EST 

USC Upstate Spartans (39-14; 10-8 Big South) vs. No. 11 Clemson University Tigers (44-12; 19-5 ACC) 

McWhorter Stadium| Clemson, S.C. 

TV: ACC Network 

How they Stack up 

Clemson leads 1-0 

Last Matchup: May 18, 2024 (CLEM 8; UPST 0) 

Players to Watch 

USC Upstate: Senior Outfielder, Denver Lauer is a player will be on opposing teams' scouting reports with how she can fill up the stat sheet while impacting the game. Lauer currently is at her career best with a .374 batting average while contributing to Upstate batting at .344 as a team. Lauer follows with a career high of 67 hits and a .564 slugging percentage. When Lauer is on base, many defenses must be on high alert as she can steal a base at any given time, adding 135 stolen bases throughout her career. The Spartans lean on her energy offensively and she adds veteran experience defensively with 63 putouts in the center field with six assists. In the Clemson Regional, Denver Lauer will be a key player that sets the tone for the Spartans and will give many teams reasons to game plan in containing her. 

Clemson: Senior Infielder, Maddie Moore leads Clemson with a .420 batting average adding 71 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, and 16 home runs. Moore has only had one season with her home run total being in single digits proving that she constantly improves on the long ball. Moore will look to help the Tigers defend their field with a regional that hosts USC Upstate, Northwestern, and Kentucky.  Maddie Moore has displayed many games of putting teams in a bind when she is at the plate with 22 multi-hit games. Moore will be a player to key on throughout the NCAA Clemson Regional on the national stage. 

NCAA Clemson Regional  

The NCAA Clemson Regional begins at McWhorter Stadium May 16th with Northwestern taking on Kentucky at 2:00 P.M. on ESPN+ followed by USC Upstate battling No. 11 seed Clemson University on the ACC Network. The format will be double elimination with the loser's bracket games beginning Saturday, May 17th. To see the entire bracket of the Clemson Regional, click here. To have a look at the entire NCAA Regionals Bracket, click here. The road to the Women's College World Series will begin with 64 teams looking to continue their journey with hopes of punching their ticket to NCAA Super Regionals. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 17th – Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Milliken Club at Fifth Third Park. For tickets, sponsorship and auction information, click here!                  

Connect with the Spartans                            
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics                            
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans                            
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans                            
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans