Clemson softball adds transfers Alex Brown from UNC, Lindsey Garcia from Auburn

The Clemson softball program officially added a pair of potential impact transfers on Tuesday. The Tigers have landed Alex Brown from North Carolina and Lindsey Garcia from Auburn, Clemson has announced.

Brown was one of the top players in the ACC in 2023, leading the Tar Heels with a .399 average. She was named second-team All-ACC after batting .434 in ACC play. Brown stole 11 bases last season.

During her two seasons at North Carolina, Alex Brown combined to hit six doubles, two triples and five home runs.

Garcia started 61 games for Auburn this past season, hitting .280 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. During her four seasons with the Auburn Tigers, Lindsey Garcia appeared in 181 games, while making 159 starts.

“We are extremely excited to be adding Alex and Lindsey to our team,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said in a statement. “We put together a solid class of competitive and versatile student-athletes with our incoming freshmen, and both Lindsey and Alex amplify our team and will provide experience as we take the next step in our fifth year. Our entire signing class is talented and will improve the quality of our team, and we cannot wait to help these women develop both on and off the field.”

Why Clemson is cautious when it comes to adding new facilities

The Clemson campus has plenty of green grass where in theory new buildings could be put up. However, Tigers Athletics Director Graham Neff says don’t expect new buildings to start popping up anytime soon.

Neff recently joined Eric Mac Lain and Kelly Gramlich on the Gramlich and Mac Lain podcast and discussed why Clemson is so careful in regards to updating its facilities.

“A lot of green space here. You look around, look out the windows. But holy cow, that green space is really, really important and valuable for seven Saturdays from a tailgating and parking and IPTAY side of things,” Neff said. “So you look at Google maps, you take a lap around campus, ‘Holy cow, all of this opportunity and that’s really different than downtown Atlanta or Miami’ … but we don’t take that lightly of ‘Great, there’s green grass, so let’s build something.’”

Clemson takes pride in its tailgating scene, which is widely regarded as one of the best in college football.

Not only is it cool to walk around campus and see tailgating lots full hours before games, but it’s also a great money maker for the athletics department. Tailgating spaces are pricy, and the money adds up.

Graham Neff added that Clemson will still add buildings when it is absolutely necessary, but the Tigers aren’t in a huge rush to do so.

“We’ve expanded and will continue to expand. We’re just going to continue to do that,” Neff said. “But it’s done with a lot of thought and strategy as it balances seven Saturdays, IPTAY and what that tailgating scene is like here at Clemson, which also is really, really unique compared to most anybody in the country.”