USC Upstate Selected for NCAA Clemson Regional
By USC Upstate Athletics
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The anticipation of continuing the journey of USC Upstate Softball has officially been announced by the NCAA during the 2025 Softball Selection Show where the Spartans will stay in-state traveling to Clemson to begin the road to the Women's College World Series.
During USC Upstate's Division I era of making trips to the NCAA Regionals, Upstate Softball have been to the Tuscaloosa Regional four times (2013, 2014, 2015, 2024), Auburn Regional (2016), and the Knoxville Regional (2017). As the Spartans make another trip to the NCAA Regionals for the second consecutive year, Upstate will stay in-state heading to the Clemson Regional opening play against No. 11 Clemson University on Friday, May 16th.
USC Upstate Softball had another historic season coming into the year as the reigning Big South Tournament Champions, adding another 30-win season, finishing with eight all-conference players (six first team, two second team), having a Co-Freshman of the Year, being ranked #1 in the NCAA with the #1 batting average on February 24, 2025, and being ranked top-10 in the NCAA for total stolen bases (150). The Spartans followed with 39-14 record (10-8 Big South) going into the 2025 Big South Softball Championships as the No. 3 seed and sweeping through all three games played ultimately resulting in capturing the 2025 Big South Softball Championship with a 7-4 win over No. 4 seed Winthrop. Junior Pitcher, Maddie Drerup dominated in the circle with two wins against Longwood and Winthrop striking out a combined 10 batters while only surrendering five runs to win Tournament MVP.
USC Upstate enters the Clemson Regional joined by Northwestern (29-18-1), University of Kentucky (29-26), and host No. 11 seed Clemson University (44-12). USC Upstate enters as the No. 4 seed in the Clemson Regional taking on the Tigers who happened to be the team to eliminate Upstate in the 2024 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.
Clemson University will host the third time in four years after winning their ACC Tournament Championship for the first time in program history with the dates taking place of May 16-May 18th. The winner of the Clemson Regional will advance to the best of three NCAA Super Regional against the winner of the Austin Regional.
Northwestern secured an at-large bid to NCAA Regionals making it their first postseason trip to and second trip ever to Clemson.
The lone SEC Opponent, University of Kentucky makes their 16th straight NCAA Tournament Appearance earning an at-large bid. The Wildcats enter as the No. 2 seed and take on Northwestern on Friday, May 16th at 2:00 P.M. EST.
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.
Tickets for the Clemson Regional for the general public are expected to go live Wednesday, May 14th at 10:00 A.M. For more information, click
here.