Max Williams’ RBI single in the bottom of the eleventh gave No. 5 Florida State a 6-5 come-from-behind walk-off win over No. 3 Clemson on Friday at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. The loss is the Tigers’ fifth in their last six games. Clemson also falls to 0-2 in extra-inning games this season.
Twice the Seminoles rallied from deficits, once in the ninth, then again in the tenth, before finishing Clemson off in the eleventh.
Dominic Listi’s solo home run in the top of the tenth inning briefly gave Clemson a 5-4 lead, but Florida State would get a solo homer from none other than Williams off Lucas Mahlstedt to lead off the bottom half of the frame. It was Williams’ 16th long ball of the season, and kept the Seminoles alive, tying the game at 5-5.
Williams finished 3-for-6 and with the two biggest RBIs of the game.
BJ Bailey pitched the final 1.1 innings to take the loss (2-3), allowing one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Mahlstedt pitched 2-plus innings, with a chance to set a new program record for saves. However, the veteran reliever gave up two ninth-inning runs that allowed the Seminoles to rally back from a two-run deficit and tie the game at 4-4, sending it into extras. It was Mahlstedt’s first blown save in 16 opportunities. He then allowed the leadoff homer to Williams in the bottom of the tenth, which allowed FSU to once again tie it up.
Cam Cannarella finished the game 1-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored in the seventh. Josh Paino went 2-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, while Jack Crighton was 2-for-4 with a run driven in and a run scored.
The pitching duel between Aidan Knaak and Jamie Arnold lived up to the billing, but neither would factor into the decision.
Arnold shut the Tigers (36-11, 13-9 ACC) down over seven-plus innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five and walking three. When Arnold exited after allowing a leadoff single in the seventh, the Seminoles (32-9, 13-6 ACC) led 2-0, but the bullpen would give it up.
Knaak was just as good through 5.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out four and walking three. Jacob McGovern would come on in relief of Knaak with two outs in the sixth and would pick off a runner at first to end the inning.
Florida State struck first, getting a run in the fourth. After a throwing error by Luke Gaffney allowed the leadoff man to reach, Cal Fisher singled, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. The error came after Gaffney made a diving stab and attempted to throw to a covering Knaak at first. A sacrifice fly by Drew Faurot then gave the Seminoles the 1-0 lead.
The Tigers would load the bases with one out in the sixth. Jacob Jarrell then lofted a fly ball to center that was caught. The runners at second and third both tagged up, but centerfielder Chase Williams gunned down Gaffney at third before Collin Priest crossed home plate, ending the inning on the double play. This came after Clemson had stranded a runner at third in the first and another at second in the second inning.
Fisher hit a solo shot for FSU with two outs in the bottom half of the sixth off Knaak, extending the Seminoles’ lead to 2-0. It was his seventh homer of the season.
Clemson had another opportunity in the seventh, and this time they cashed in. After Crighton singled and Andrew Ciufo walked to start the inning, a sacrifice bunt by Jay Dillard, who was in for an injured Jarren Purify, moved the runners to second and third. Cannarrella then singled through the left side, driving in both runners and tying the game. Paino then doubled off the wall in right-center, allowing Cannarella to come all the way around to score and giving Clemson its first lead at 3-2.
Reed Garris relieved McGovern with one out in the bottom of the seventh and a runner on second. The runner quickly stole third, but Garris would strike out the only two hitters he faced to get out of the jam.
An RBI single by Crighton in the top of the eighth would give the Tigers a 4-2 advantage.
One-Run Games
This marks the first time all season that the Tigers have lost a one-run game. Coming in, Clemson was 9-0.
A New Program Record
Listi was hit by a pitch in the fourth and then again in the sixth. He’s now been hit by a pitch 22 times this season, which breaks the program record of 21 set by Khalil Greene back in 2001. He finished the night 2-for-2 with one home run and two runs scored.
Runners In Scoring Position
Clemson came into tonight’s game six for its last 55 with runners in scoring position, going back to the series finale against Louisville close to two weeks ago. The Tigers would start the night off 0-for-5 in those same situations before finishing the game just 2-for-13.
Hitting Streak
Priest extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double in the seventh. It was his only hit of the night, as the slugger finished 1-for-5.
Up Next
Florida State and Clemson will continue the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.