No. 5 Florida State dominated No. 2 Clemson in the series finale at Dick Howser Stadium on Sunday afternoon, cruising to a 20-9 win in eight innings thanks to the 10-run rule. The Seminoles clinched the series 2-1, improving to 33-10 overall and 14-7 in ACC play. Clemson fell to 37-12 overall and 14-10 in the conference.
Drew Faurot ended the game in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run, his second of the day, capping off Florida State’s third walk-off win of the season. The Seminoles hit six home runs in the game and recorded a season-high 21 hits. Eight of nine FSU starters had at least one hit, and every batter reached base.
Alex Lodise got the scoring started with a solo home run in the first inning. After going hitless in the first two games of the series, Lodise launched his 15th homer of the season over the left-field wall, nearly clearing the scoreboard.
The Seminoles broke the game wide open in the second, scoring seven runs. Drew Faurot scored on a wild pitch, then Gage Harrelson dropped down a bunt single to bring home another run. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch plated another, and a throwing error on a Cal Fisher grounder brought in one more. A bases-loaded walk added to the total before Chase Williams delivered a two-run single to center, giving FSU an 8-0 lead.
FSU tacked on two more runs in the third. Harrelson doubled to put two runners in scoring position with no outs, and Myles Bailey knocked in both with a sacrifice fly and a two-out single, extending the lead to 10-0.
Clemson answered with a five-run fourth inning. The Tigers opened the frame with four singles to score a run, then took advantage of a hit-by-pitch and wild pitch to plate two more. Wes Mendes was pulled after allowing five runs in 3.1 innings, striking out five. Chris Knier walked the only batter he faced, and Payton Manca also walked the first batter he saw before getting a strikeout and a pop-up to end the threat.
Florida State got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out RBI single by freshman Hunter Carns, making it 11-5. The fifth inning went scoreless, but Clemson closed the gap again in the sixth.
Josh Paino drilled a two-run homer to left, his ninth of the year. Two batters later, Luke Gaffney lifted a two-run homer of his own to right, his fifth of the season, trimming the lead to 11-9.
Faurot responded quickly in the bottom of the sixth, sneaking a solo homer inside the left-field foul pole for his 10th of the year. Joe Charles came on in relief of Manca and delivered a 1-2-3 seventh inning, aided by a defensive play where Lodise tagged out a runner who over-slid second base on a steal attempt. Charles then struck out Cam Cannarella looking to end the inning.
Bailey added to his big day in the seventh, launching a three-run homer over the right-field wall. It was his fourth hit and fifth RBI of the game, and his 11th homer of the season.
Charles continued his strong relief outing in the eighth, stranding a runner with his fifth strikeout. The Seminoles then erupted for their fourth multi-run inning in the bottom half.
Lodise hit a two-run homer, Max Williams followed with a solo blast, and three batters later, Faurot ended the game with his second homer of the day, a two-run shot that made it 20-9.
It was the first time since March 28, 2021, that Florida State hit three home runs in one inning. Faurot homered from both sides of the plate and went 4-for-4 in the game. Lodise drove in four runs, while Bailey led the team with five RBIs.
Charles (2-0) earned the win with 2.2 scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Clemson starter Talan Bell (0-1) took the loss after allowing six earned runs in 1.1 innings.
Florida State went 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position and 6-for-12 with two outs, using their power and depth to put the game out of reach and close the series in emphatic fashion.
