CLEMSON – Julia Knowler sent a two-run homer out of the park in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it was not enough to salvage a series against No. 8 Florida State, or avoid a 7-3 defeat at Mcwhorter Stadium Sunday night..

The loss marked the second-largest margin of defeat Clemson has suffered against an ACC team this season, and the second-largest loss to Florida State in program history.

The Tigers notched only four hits to the Seminoles’ nine in the defeat. Shortstop Kiley Channell and first baseman Mac Pavese made up half of those hits, leading a two-out rally in the third to plate the Tigers’ first run of the night.

Sierra Maness got her second start of the weekend in the circle, and allowed a career-high in earned runs, and was one shy of her season-high in hits. Florida State’s pitching, on the other hand, held Clemson to a .174 average in the late-night game.

With the loss, Clemson (23-13, 6-6 ACC) suffers its first sweep since April of 2024, and falls to 1-10 all-time against the Seminoles. The Tigers’ one victory came in the ACC Tournament Championship last year.

For the second time in the series, the Seminoles (32-4, 9-0 ACC) struck first. In the top of the first, Florida State hitters got it going quickly with two consecutive singles. A third batter reached on a fielder’s choice, then stole second. Maness issued a one-out walk to load the bases, and a sacrifice groundout scored one for a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers limited further damage with more weak contact for an out to conclude the frame.

Florida State’s leadoff hitter, the same that opened the game with a single, drew Tiger blood again in the third with a solo home run to extend the lead 2-0.

Nine-hole hitter Taylor Pipkins gave the Tigers their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a single that beat out a throw from third base. With two outs, a single from shortstop Kiley Channell sent Pipkins to second, and another shot through the right side from Mac Pavese brought her home. The two-out rally cut the lead 2-1, before the inning concluded.

The Seminoles responded quickly, however, with a walk, a double, and a RBI fielder’s choice to plate another in the fourth, taking a 3-1 advantage. They added one more in the fifth on two singles before Isa Torres– the nation’s leader in batting average– put the game away with a three-run blast, her seventh of the year in the sixth.

Knowler sent her two-run long blast out of the park in the seventh to cut the lead 7-3, and Corri Hicks singled, but it was not enough to overcome a six-run deficit.

Maness got the start in the circle for the Tigers, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing seven earned runs. She walked three, as many as she walked Friday, and did not strike out any Seminole hitters. With the loss, her record fell to 14-5. It marked her 15th time pitching five or more innings.

After Maness allowing nine hits, her second-most this season, and her most earned runs this year, right-hander Keira Crosby replaced her in the circle in relief. She notched no hits, three strikeouts and no walks in 1.2 innings of work.

Double Play Drama

While the Tigers turned a program-record four double-plays on Friday night in the opener against the Seminoles, it turned against them Sunday. Julia Knowler, a junior designated player and first basemen, grounded into two after getting a leadoff runner on. 

Strikeouts

Across the three-game series, only three Tigers struck out against Florida State pitchers, and all three came in Saturday’s 4-2 loss. Clemson pitchers struck out nine in three games, but the Tigers were still outscored 15-4 in three matchups.

Hitting Woes

With only three hits on the day, Florida State held Clemson to only X hits on the weekend, across three games. Channell and Pavese each had two hits on the weekend, while centerfielder Jamison Brockenbrough, Marian Collins, Macey Cintron, and Taylor Pipkins each had one as well. In contrast, the Seminoles put up 20 hits in total in the series. Cintron also walked in each of her at-bats Sunday.

Up Next 

The Tigers will host Gardner-Webb for some midweek action Tuesday, in their last home game for over two weeks. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at McWhorter Stadium and coverage will be shown on ACC Network Extra.