Clemson let a golden opportunity slip away in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, blowing a pair of late leads and falling to no. 5 Florida State 6-5 in 11 innings.
The third-ranked Tigers entered the bottom of the ninth with a 4-2 lead, but the Seminoles got to closer Lucas Mahlstedt with two doubles and an RBI single to send the game into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Dominic Listi (2-3) put the Tigers right back in front with a home run to right field. FSU center fielder Max Williams answered Listi’s long ball with one of his own to tie it back up at 5-5. One inning later, Williams finished Clemson off with an RBI single against BJ Bailey (2-3).
Mahlstedt (1.95) gave up multiple runs in an appearance for the first time this season. It comes at a bad time for the Tigers, who have now dropped five straight ACC games and are losing ground to Florida State (32-9, 13-6) and others in the conference race.
Josh Paino (2-5) doubled twice, Jack Crighton (2-4) drove in a run and Cam Cannarella (1-5) had a two-run single. Tigers’ starter Aidan Knaak returned to form following a poor out against NC State, exiting in the sixth after surrendering two runs on four hits.
Clemson (36-11, 13-9) will look to rebound when the clubs square off in Game 2 from Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., at 6 p.m., Saturday.