Clemson handed Florida State its first two losses of the season in devastating fashion, Saturday. After the Tigers took Game 1 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium 15-5 (7 innings), Florida State bounced back in Game 2 and needed just three outs to nail down an 8-1 victory and salvage a split. But Clemson, not satisfied, pounced on the back end of the Seminoles’ bullpen for an eight-run ninth that culminated when Jacob Hinderleider’s looping single to right plated Jimmy Obertop with the winning run in a jaw-dropping 9-8 walk-off win.
Obertop, who scored twice in the inning, had gotten the rally started when he was plunked by FSU righthander Hudson Rowan leading off the ninth. Billy Taylor followed with a walk. Rowan was pulled in favor of John Abraham. Hinderleider greeted Abraham rudely, launching his 1-1 offering into the seats in left-center for a three-run homer.
Three batters later, the bases were loaded for Tigers’ third baseman Blake Wright. Wright was swinging a hot bat and had already taken an FSU hurler deep in Game 1. Southpaw Carson Dorsey was tasked with retiring Wright. With nowhere to put him, Dorsey challenged Wright with a fastball. It caught too much of the plate and Wright deposited it over the wall in center for a game-tying grand slam. It was the senior’s eighth home run in the last nine games and 12th overall.
Two batters later, Obertop was hit by a pitch for the second time in the inning. In a carbon copy of the scorebook, Taylor followed with a walk to bring Hinderleider back to the dish. With all the momentum on their side, the Tigers looked poised to complete the comeback and break the Seminoles’ will. Hinderleider got a breaking ball he could handle but didn’t make solid contact. It caught enough of the barrel, however, to carry over the outstretched glove of the second baseman and into right field. Obertop scored standing, triggering a celebratory pileup around Hinderleider that carried into the outfield grass.
Florida State (19-2, 3-2) entered the day undefeated but the Noles’ staff couldn’t cool Clemson’s bats in either game. Cam Cannarella (3-5, 4 RBI) had a three-run homer in Game 1 and Wright homered in both games, finishing with seven RBI in the doubleheader. Cannarella also made a leaping grab early in Game 2 that robbed a home run and prevented the deficit from growing.
The Seminoles’ defense was forced to walk off in both losses. Nolan Nawroki’s single plated Alden Mathes with the Tigers’ 15th run in the seventh inning of Game 1, triggering the 10-run rule and drawing the curtain on FSU’s first loss of the season.
Starter Ethan Darden (4-0) earned the win in Game 1 with a career-long outing (6.1 IP). Freshman lefthander Jacob McGovern got the Game 2 win in only his second career appearance.
Clemson (21-2, 4-1) will look to complete the series sweep at 1 p.m., Sunday.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
