Recruiting: 2025 Standouts Lexie Hames and Ariel Krueger on Clemson Campus This Weekend

So what are you doing this weekend?

Some, like my son—a high school senior—are going to their Homecoming Dance at school. Others are outdoors enjoying the beautiful fall foliage and (hopefully) good weather.

And then there’s a pair of Carolina Elite – Fusetti teammates who we profiled recently on how September 1 began for each when college coaches could first reach out to those in the Class of 2025.

• Click HERE to read the article on Ariel Krueger
• Click HERE to read the article on Lexie Hames

The dynamic duo – Ariel a middle infielder from Michigan and Lexie a pitcher from Pennsylvania – are both in South Carolina this weekend on the campus of Clemson University.

The pair are taking a visit this weekend to check out the Tigers’ campus and arrived early on Friday.

Both told Extra Inning Softball today that they had a ball trying on the purple and orange softball uniforms of the ACC school, touring the softball facility and student dorms and even got a ride around campus in a golf cart driven by softball head coach John Rittman.

Saturday morning they had breakfast and then relaxed by listening to some country tunes by Zach Bryan and checking out more of the Clemson experience before heading to the campus for a 4:30 pm EST tailgate party in advance of Clemson football hosting Florida Atlantic; Ariel and Lexie will be two of the estimated 80,000 fans who are expected to attend the game at Memorial Stadium, also known as “Death Valley.”

One cool aspect of this weekend’s trip I that Ariel and her father are taking advantage of is staying in a hotel on campus. Lexie and her parents, meanwhile, are staying at Carolina Elite Head Coach Dana Fusetti’s home, about 45 minutes away from campus as this weekend is an unofficial for her by choice (but it is still a strong possibility for the outstanding pitcher).

Lexie says that staying with Coach Dana is a give-and-take proposition.

“She gives us the food and we give her the Mountain Dew,” she joked.

The pitcher says she is enjoying the free time on Saturday, but probably to her parent’s detriment.

“I’m having fun just looking around campus and shopping,” she continues, “and probably shopping too much. I don’t think so, but my parents unfortunately do!”

The teammates are enjoying this time together and both say they would love to have each other on their future college team, but it’s not a big factor in their decisions.

“Yea,” Ariel agrees, “it’d be great to play with Lexie but it’s not like it has to happen as we each have to do what’s best for us. It’d be so cool, though, although it’s not an extreme factor in our final decisions.”

Next weekend, Ariel will take an official visit to the University of Michigan while Lexie will be at Penn State and, the week after that, at Baylor.

Previously, Ariel took an unofficial campus visit to Duke and then an official trip to Michigan State. Lexie has taken one official before this weekend, to Virginia.

Both players have admitted finalizing their school of choice is going to be the hardest decision ever.

When asked what they’re looking for in a university, Ariel explained:

“I’m looking for a feeling of peace that I will get when I’m on the campus and, if I have any doubts, then I’ll know that’s not the school for me,” she states. “I want to be on a team with players who are close with their coaches as well as a school that’s competitive and good academics—I’m thinking of going into Biology and someday becoming a dentist.”

Lexie explains that she’s looking for a “double threat” program.

“I want a school that is competitive in softball and also has strong academics,” she says. “I’m looking for a feeling of family and home. I like to describe myself as a social person so I’m also looking for a school where I can build and have strong social relationships for life.”

EIS will continue to monitor the recruiting journeys of these two standout players ranked in the Top 50 of the 2025 Extra Elite 100 and will update their status as the continue to visit college campuses.

Finally, here are their social media sites for those that want to follow these two future college talents:

Ariel:

• Twitter: @arielkrueger32
• Instagram: @arielkruegerr

Lexie:

• Twitter: @lexiehames2025
• Instagram: @lexie_hames22

— Brentt Eads/Extra Inning Softball