Blake Wright and the Clemson Tigers’ bats did it again.
One day after hitting a game-tying grand slam as part of an eight-run ninth-inning rally, the hottest hitter in the ACC launched another bases-loaded blast as part of a seventh-inning rally to help No. 3 Clemson out-slug No. 7 Florida State, 14-12, for a series sweep Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Clemson (22-2 overall, 5-1 ACC) trailed 11-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The Tigers got to within striking distance on run-scoring singles from Wright, Jacob Hinderleider, Cam Cannarella, and Andrew Ciufo, who had a two-RBI hit. Those four hits brought the score to 11-7.
After Lucas Mahlstedt pitched a scoreless seventh for Clemson, the Tigers drew four consecutive walks against Florida State relievers to force in a run and bring the score to 11-8. With the bases still loaded two batters later, Jacob Jarrell drew Clemson’s fifth walk of the inning to force in another run and make it 11-9.
Then came Wright’s latest heroics. The senior infielder sent a 1-1 fastball from Carson Dorsey well into the left field seats to empty the bases for his eighth home run in nine games.
It was the latest in a series of clutch moments for Wright, who had five RBIs in Sunday’s game and finished 3-for-5. The Sunshine State native has 13 hits in his last five games (a span of 22 at-bats), including six home runs and 21 RBIs.
In the three games against FSU, Wright hit three home runs and finished 6-for-14 with 10 RBIs. He now has 13 homers and 40 RBIs through 24 games while batting .365.
Clemson added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Ciufo singled off Joe Charles to make the score 14-11.
Rob Hughes completed a five-out save in the ninth inning. The right-hander allowed his first run of the season when Marco Dinges homered leading off for Florida State.
After walking Drew Faurot on a 3-2 pitch that missed inside, Hughes got Jaxson West, Alex Lodise and Max Williams to strike out swinging to end the game for his third save.
Mathes (3-for-5), Ciufo (3-for-4) and Cannarella (2-for-5) joined Wright as players that finished with two hits or more for the Tigers. Clemson totaled 14 hits in the game and 36 in the three-game sweep.
Mahlstedt (1-0) got the win in relief after throwing two scoreless innings. Dorsey (2-2) suffered the loss for Florida State.
Aidan Knaak started for Clemson and ran into trouble early. The big blow was a three-run home run from James Tibbs over the head of Cannarella in center field to stake the Seminoles to a 5-0 lead in the second inning. Tibbs homered off Knaak again in the fifth.
Conner Whitaker started for Florida State (19-3, 3-3) and scattered two runs through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He ended up charged with six runs on nine hits allowed in a no-decision.
UP NEXT
Clemson will host another top 25 team when Coastal Carolina visits Doug Kingsmore Stadium Tuesday for a scheduled 6 p.m. EDT start. Coastal Carolina is ranked No. 16 in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.