Charlotte softball defeats No. 23 Clemson as seven-game streak grows, powered by two late homers

Charlotte adds another ranked win in early 2026

Charlotte’s softball team extended its winning streak to seven games on Feb. 18, 2026, defeating No. 23 Clemson 8-3 in Charlotte. The result moved the 49ers to 9-2, while Clemson fell to 6-5. The game also marked Charlotte’s first win over Clemson in program history.

How the game turned: Clemson’s early edge, Charlotte’s middle-innings surge

Clemson scored first in the opening inning, capitalizing on traffic on the bases to take a 2-0 lead. The Tigers later pushed the margin to 3-0 in the fourth after a stolen base and an RBI groundout.

Charlotte answered in the bottom of the fourth with a bases-loaded walk to get on the board, then strung together run-producing plate appearances to flip the game. A two-run home run in the inning helped Charlotte take control, and the 49ers ultimately produced a six-run rally that changed the game’s trajectory.

The decisive swing came in the fourth, when Charlotte turned a three-run deficit into a multi-run lead and never gave it back.

Jenna Lord’s two-homer night provides separation

Third baseman Jenna Lord delivered the biggest offensive impact, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs. Her first long ball came during Charlotte’s rally, and her second was a two-run shot later that extended the cushion and helped close out the 8-3 final.

Charlotte also received run production from Olivia Williams, who drove in two, and Teagan Ritchie, who added an RBI. In the circle, Taylor Jones earned the win, improving to 4-1, before Brooke Bowling worked the final three innings without allowing a run to preserve the advantage.

What it means for both programs

• For Charlotte: The victory was the team’s second win over a Top 25 opponent this season and reinforced momentum built during tournament play earlier in February.

• For Clemson: The Tigers generated early offense and extra-base hits but were unable to contain Charlotte’s fourth-inning rally, leaving the midweek trip with a loss that dropped them below .500 in the opening weeks.

Next on the schedule

Charlotte is set to host the Charlotte Invitational from Feb. 20–22, with Boston University, Marshall, and Jacksonville scheduled to participate. Clemson returns to action Feb. 20, opening its Clemson Classic with games against Lipscomb and Coastal Carolina.