Thomas Brittle’s inside-the-park home run Thursday night scored two runs as part of a three-run third inning, propelling the 14th-ranked Tigers to an 8-2 victory over No. 9 Florida State.
The win improved the Tigers to 39-15 overall and 18-10 in the ACC. More importantly, it ties them with the Seminoles for first place in the ACC’s Atlantic Division. It also marked just the third time this year Florida State lost at home in 33 games.
Clemson has now beaten the Seminoles in nine of the last 12 meetings, including eight wins in the last 10 regular season meetings.
Usually overpowering his opponents with his fastball, Clemson’s ace, Daniel Gossett, instead induced Florida State into pop ups and grounders for much of the night to earn his ninth win of the season. The righty held the Seminoles scoreless through six innings of work, while scattering three hits. He had just three strikeouts.
The Tigers grabbed the lead with one run in the first inning and then extended it to 2-0 when Tyler Slaton doubled to right field to score Jon McGibbon from second with one out.
Leading 3-0 after catcher Garrett Boulware walked, moved to third on a Shane Kennedy single and scored on Tyler Krieger groundout to short, Brittle hit what appeared to be a bloop single to centerfield. FSU centerfielder Seth Miller dove for the ball and missed. The baseball them popped over his body and rolled to the wall, allowing Kennedy to score and Brittle to smoke it around the base pads for his first in-the-park home run of his career.
Clemson added another run in the fourth inning when Kennedy singled to left field to score Steven Duggar from third.
Florida State (42-11, 18-10 ACC) only threatened to score on Gossett one time when the sophomore gave up a hit and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth. But he got Casey Smit to ground into a 4-6-3 double-play to end the threat and the Seminoles only chance to have a big inning.
The Tigers upped the lead to 8-0 by manufacturing two runs in the sixth inning, and then held off an FSU rally in the seventh when again the Seminoles left the bases loaded.
After getting two runs across the plate, FSU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning when Patrick Andrews came in for Kyle Schnell. Andrews got Marcus Davis swinging to record the second out and then retired the side when Jose Brizuela flew out to left field.
Clemson was led by Kennedy’s two hits and two RBIs as well as Brittle’s inside-the-park home run. Steve Wilkerson had two hits and drove in a run as well, while McGibbon and Duggar both had two hits. Krieger was credited with an RBI, while Boulware drew three walks.
The Tigers out hit FSU, 11-6.
Clemson and the Seminoles will play Game 2 Friday at 8 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPNU.