CLEMSON — Wes Mendes struck out 10 hitters across six innings of work, as No. 14 Florida State secured an 8-4 series-opening win over Clemson on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, snapping the Tigers’ three-game winning streak.

Mendes allowed three runs on five hits in picking up the win (9-3).

Dane Moehler, who took the loss (0-2), served as the opener, holding the Seminoles to one run across the first two innings. Justin LeGuernic would follow him, and Florida State hitters had their way with the lefty, touching him up for six runs on seven hits in just three innings of work. Freshman Landon Fowler had his best outing of the season, throwing two scoreless innings while striking out two.

Jacob Jarrell paced the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Jack Crighton also had a two-hit day and drove in a run. Bryce Clavon walked twice, stole two bases and scored two runs.

Hunter Karns two-out RBI single in the top of the first gave Florida State (35-14, 16-9 ACC) a quick 1-0 lead.

The Seminoles would push across three more in the third, getting RBI hits from Brody DeLamiellure and Carns. Nathan Cmeyla added a sac fly, making it 4-0.

An RBI single by Jarrell pulled the Tigers (29-21, 8-17) to within 4-1 in the bottom half of the frame.

John Stuetzer’s two-run shot in the fourth pushed the Noles’ lead out to 5-2.

Jarren Purify singled to start the bottom half of the inning, with Tyler Lichtenber’s double into right, bringing him around to score and making it 6-2.

DeLamiellure’s solo shot to start the fifth extended the Florida State lead to 7-2.

Tryston McCladdie was hit in the hand by a pitch to begin the bottom of the sixth. After moving to second on a wild pitch, a single by Crighton would bring him home, making it 7-3.

DeLamiellure added a sac fly in the ninth off of reliever Peyton Miller, extending the lead to 8-4. The run was unearned. It was his third RBI of the game.

Clemson was able to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but McCladdie flied out to the warning track to end it.

Death By 1000 Cuts

That is it. There is no more margin for error. If this team wants to keep its extremely slim postseason hopes alive, it has to win on Saturday and Sunday. The Tigers now have 17 losses in ACC play, but due to a strong strength of schedule, the metrics still like this Clemson team. However, if the Tigers take an 18th league loss, that’s a wrap.

Series-Openers

The Tigers have lost six of their eight series-openers in ACC play. They also dropped Game 1 to South Carolina. Scoring runs agains the opposing team’s ace has been an uphill climb all season against the better teams on the schedule.

Up Next

Game two is on Saturday at 6 p.m. Michael Sharman gets the start in what is a must-win game for Clemson.