Clemson Baseball came out of one Top 10 series against the Duke Blue Devils and stepped into another with the Florida State Seminoles. Following a 2-1 series win in Durham, confidence was riding high.
In each game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend, the Seminoles came out and punched the Tigers square in the nose. Each time, the Tigers were a bit stunned but gathered themselves and delivered the knockout punch.
Clemson swept Florida State 3-0 for the series win. The Seminoles were previously undefeated.
Friday’s Game 1 was moved back due to poor weather, so the teams played a doubleheader on Saturday. Ethan Darden got the start in the first game and was tested early. The Seminoles hit a grand slam in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Clemson responded quickly with a run in the first inning and a three-run blast by Cam Cannarella to tie the game at 4-4 in the second inning. From there the Tigers went on a scoring spree and eventually run-ruled FSU 15-5 in seven innings.
Darden bounced back strong after the first inning and pitched 6.1 innings to get the win.
It looked like Florida State would get its revenge in the second game Saturday as they jumped out to a quick lead. Austin Gordon got the start but exited after two innings. The Seminoles held an 8-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth and things looked bleak.
The Tigers got two runners on base for Jacob Hinderleider who cranked a three-run homer to cut the lead to 8-4. Clemson then loaded the bases for Blake Wright, who hit a grand slam to tie the game 8-8.
Following a hit batsman and a walk, Hinderleider stepped up to the plate again and got the game-winning single to bring Jimmy Obertop across home plate and seal the second victory of the series 9-8.
Game 3 on Sunday had a similar script. Aidan Knaak started for the Tigers, who got behind early again. This time, FSU held an 11-2 lead going into the sixth inning, only to see it bleed away again. This time the Tigers chipped away with singles to score five runs in the sixth.
In the seventh, the Tigers plated two runs via walks before Wright hit another grand slam to take the lead 13-11. Clemson added one more in the eighth to take the game 14-12.
Wright was sensational during the series. He had 12 RBIs with two grand slams to power comebacks in the second two games.
The Tigers next host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium at 6:00 PM. They will follow that with a three-game series in Coral Gables, Florida against the Miami Hurricanes.