A comeback effort came up short as No. 5 Florida State pounded No. 3 Clemson early and late en route to a 20-9 run-rule win on Sunday at Mike Martin Field in Tallahassee, sending the Tigers to their second consecutive series loss and sixth defeat in their last eight games.

The Seminoles jumped out to a 10-0 lead after three, thanks to a seven-run second inning, but the Tigers would chip away, pulling to within two runs at one point. However, a three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh by Myles Bailey pushed the Seminoles’ lead back out to six at 15-9, a deficit Clemson could not overcome. The Noles added four more in the eighth to put the Tigers away and win it in walk-off fashion.

Matt Lodise began the game for Florida State (33-10, 14-7 ACC) with a solo shot in his first at-bat and ended it with a three-run homer in his final at-bat in the eighth. He went 3-for-3 with four RBI. Drew Faurot also had two homers, including a two-run shot in the eighth that ended it. He finished 4-for-4 with four RBI.

For Clemson (37-12, 14-10 ACC), Josh Paino finished the afternoon 1-for-4 with a home run and three runs driven in. Luke Gaffney went 2-for-5 with a homer of his own, while driving in two runs and scoring twice. Cam Cannarella added two hits and scored a run.

The Seminoles struck early, getting a solo home run from Lodise in the bottom of the first. It was Lodise’s 15th homer of the season.

Florida State went right back to work in the second, plating seven runs and sending 12 hitters to the plate. The Seminoles got back-to-back singles to start the frame, putting runners on the corners. A wild pitch from starter Talan Bell would allow a run to score. After getting a short fly ball to right for the first out of the inning, Bell issued a one-out walk, again putting runners on the corners, and in the process ending the freshman’s day.

BJ Bailey would come on in relief, and Gage Harrelson laid down a perfect bunt on the lefty’s very first pitch. Bailey would collide with second baseman Jay Dillard attempting to field the ball, and once the play was over, a run had scored, runners were once again on the corners with just one out, and Dillard had exited with an injury. Bailey then walked Lodise to load the bases. After getting a pop-up for the second out, Bailey plunked a hitter, forcing in another run. Bailey then allowed an infield single, making it 5-0 and ending the reliever’s day.

Nathan Dvorsky came on and issued a five-pitch walk, forcing in another run, making it 6-0. Chase Williams then took the first pitch he saw into right, driving in two more runs. Dvorsky would then get a ground ball to third to finally end the inning with the Tigers in an 8-0 hole.

Michael Gillen came on to start the third, and the hit barrage continued. The Seminoles would tag the reliever for two runs on three hits, pushing the lead out to 10-0.

Clemson finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, batting around themselves. Gaffney led it off with a single off the screen above the right-field wall. After Dominic Listi struck out, Jack Crighton singled, putting runners at first and second. Jacob Jarrell then singled into right, making it 10-1 and giving Clemson its first hit of the day with runners in scoring position.

Tryston McCladdie then singled to right, loading the bases. After Andrew Ciufo just missed a grand slam, hooking it foul out to left, he was hit by a pitch, driving in a run. A wild pitch then made it 10-3. After a Cannarella walk, the bases were loaded again, still with only one out. After a pitching change, Paino drew a four-pitch walk, forcing in another run. After another pitching change, Collin Priest would also draw a walk, making it 10-5. Gaffney then struck out for the second out of the inning before Listi popped it up to end it.

Florida State got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Faurot, pushing the lead back out to 11-5.

The Tigers would keep chipping away, getting a couple of long balls in the sixth. After Cannarella singled to start the inning, Paino hit his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot out to left-center. Priest then walked for the second time in the game, and Gaffney followed that with a two-run shot of his own out to right, pulling Clemson to within two at 11-9. It was Gaffney’s fifth homer of the season.

Faurot would strike for FSU again in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a solo home run off of TP Wentworth, his 10th of the season, putting the Seminoles up 12-9.

Failing to Deliver in the Clutch

While the Tigers did score nine runs on 11 base hits, hitters still struggled to deliver in those clutch situations. By the end of the second inning, Clemson was already 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and finished the game 3-of-11, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth. The Tigers also finished hitless with two outs. On a positive note, they did finish 5-of-17 with runners on base.

Talan Bell’s First Weekend Start

Bell’s first career weekend start was a short one. The freshman lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He struck out two and issued one walk.

Collin Priest Bounces Back

After having his 12-game hitting streak snapped in the second game of the weekend series, Priest went 1-for-3 and walked twice in the finale.

Up Next

Clemson travels to Conway for a midweek matchup against Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers took down the Tigers 8-2 earlier in the season at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.