Florida State vs Clemson Baseball Recap

Clemson 9, Florida State 8

“I Will Survive” serenaded the Clemson Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Thursday, as they walked off the field with a 9-8 win over the Florida State Seminoles in a true survival-of-the-fittest game. 

The eighth inning of this high-scoring affair saw the Seminoles take an 8-6 lead in the top half of the inning — it would be short-lived.  

With an out already recorded, Tigers rightfielder Kyle Parker - the potential tying run - had a runner on first and a 3-1 count. With the outfield playing Parker almost at the fence, he knocked a short fly ball between the leftfielder and shortstop for a double to put runners at second and third with one out. Tigers third baseman John Hinson hit an RBI single on the next at-bat - putting the tying run on third base – but Hinson made the egregious error of being caught in a rundown on a failed steal attempt for the second out. Clemson designated hitter Brad Miller was unfazed by the incident as he laced a double which enabled the tying runner to come in. Two batters later, Tigers centerfielder Wilson Boyd knocked in Miller for the lead-changing RBI single to make the score 9-8.   

With the win, Clemson is a victory away from forcing a do-or-die game three of the series with Florida State for the Atlantic Division title. 

Thursday night’s tilt featured a basketball-like pace with five lead changes and at least one run scored in each of the final eight innings. Miller was unstoppable for Clemson, going 5 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and four runs scored. Miller had been starting at shortstop all season up to this week, but Jason Stolz got the start at shortstop on Thursday (Stolz did well himself with a 2-for-4 day with 2 RBIs and a great catch in the ninth inning for the second out). For the Seminoles, nine-hole hitter and first basemen Jayce Boyd took the Tigers by surprise with two home runs, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored.  

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In a game where 17 runs were scored and the pitching was not at its finest, lefty starters Sean Gilmartin (FSU) and Casey Harman (Clemson) did enough to keep their teams in the game. Both gave up 4 earned runs in a game plagued by errors (5 total), and Gilmartin struck out 9 while Harman sat down 8 FSU batters. 

The game came down to a battle of the bullpens after each starter exited in the sixth. The Tigers gained the lead and the win for righty Alex Frederick (5-1), who worked 2 1/3 innings. Clemson's right-handed reliever Tomas Cruz got the save with the final two outs of inning while a Seminole runner stood on first base. Florida State’s bullpen gave up 4 earned runs in 3 innings of work with righty Geoff Parker being tagged with the loss. 

Clemson and Florida State play game two of the series at 6:30 Eastern tomorrow. The Tigers will throw right-hander Scott Weismann (5-2, 5.17 ERA) and the Seminoles will counter with lefty Brian Busch (4-0, 3.65 ERA).

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Guest Writer