Florida State takes down Clemson, shrink Tigers’ postseason chances

Clemson baseball’s postseason path got even tougher Sunday afternoon after dropping the series finale to No. 12/14 Florida State, 6-3, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers stranded runners throughout the afternoon and couldn’t capitalize on early chances, finishing just 1-for-13 with runners on base despite getting their leadoff hitter aboard in each of the first five innings. Clemson also allowed traffic nearly every inning, surrendering 15 hits while using five different pitchers in the loss.

Jarren Purify continued his hot stretch at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two singles and a run scored. He was the only Tiger to record multiple hits and has now produced two three-hit performances this week alone.

Florida State wasted little time continuing a trend that defined the entire series. For the third straight game, the Seminoles scored first, this time on a leadoff solo homer from catcher Nathan Cmeyla that ricocheted off the right-field foul pole. The Seminoles added two more runs in the second inning behind RBI hits from Carter McCulley and John Stuetzer to grab a 3-0 lead.

Clemson repeatedly put itself in position to respond but couldn’t break through early. Singles from Nate Savoie and Purify, along with a walk by Jason Fultz Jr., produced little damage as the Tigers either ran into outs or grounded into double plays.

McCulley added another blow in the fourth inning with a solo homer to left field that stretched the lead to 4-0. Meanwhile, Clemson starter Aidan Knaak struggled again in ACC play, lasting only four innings while allowing eight hits and four earned runs. The junior struck out four and walked two as his record dropped to 2-6.

The Tigers finally got on the board in the fifth after Purify ripped a leadoff triple. Jack Crighton followed with a bunt that turned into an error, allowing Purify to score and cut the deficit to three.

Florida State answered again in the sixth, taking advantage of a Clemson error and another RBI single to push the lead to 5-1. Clemson reliever Brendon Bennett helped limit further damage by escaping a bases-loaded jam with back-to-back outs.