Clemson scored two runs in the sixth and added three more in the seventh to rally past Florida State 9-5 on Saturday in ACC baseball. The victory improved the Tigers to 24-22 overall and 16-16 in the league. The loss dropped the Seminoles to 27-19 on the year and 18-14 in conference play.
The Tigers jumped on FSU starting pitcher Conor Grady for three runs in the top of the first inning to get the ball rolling. After a pair of singles by Sam Hall and Kier Meredith, James Parked doubled into left field to score both runners and give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead. It would grow to three-zip on a Bryar Hawkins one-out single which scored Parker.
The Seminoles quickly responded in the bottom of the frame as Logan Lacey homered to left centerfield to put Florida State on the board with one out in the first. After recording two doubles in last night’s win to up his season total to eleven, Lacey’s home run marked his fifth long ball of the year.
The game stayed 3-1 until the bottom of the fifth when the home team grabbed the lead with one swing of the bat. Following a walk and two base hits to load the bases with two outs, left fielder Elijah Cabell stroked a grand slam to centerfield. Cabell’s 14th home run of the year pushed Florida State in front 5-3 heading into the sixth inning.
Clemson asserted control of the game over the next few at bats, scoring six runs from the sixth to the eighth inning. In the sixth, the Seminoles gifted the Tigers a pair of runs on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Clemson tacked on three more in the seventh, taking advantage of an FSU error and getting RBIs from Caden Grice, Jonathan French, and Bryce Teodosio. In the eighth, Grice put the game out of reach with a solo home run to up the edge to 9-5.
That was more than enough for reliever Davis Sharpe. The redshirt sophomore picked up his third win of the year by tossing 4 & 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up just three base hits while striking out eight. Coupled with the effort of starter Keyshawn Askew, Clemson pitching struck out sixteen Seminoles on the day. Wyatt Crowell, one of seven pitchers utilized by Florida State on the day, took the loss in relief.
The rubber match of the three game series is set for Sunday afternoon at 1pm in Tallahassee.
Monte Lee Postgame Comments (Clemson YouTube)
