Tigers Fall to Noles, Get #5 Seed in ACC Tourney

Clemson finished in third place in the ACC Atlantic division and fifth place in the overall ACC standings with an 18-12 league mark. Clemson will be the #5 seed in the ACC Tournament at Durham (NC) Bulls Athletic Park. The Tigers will play one game each against #4-seeded N.C. State, #1-seeded North Carolina, and #8-seeded Miami (FL) in that order in the ACC Tournament, which starts on Wednesday. The winner of Clemson's bracket will advance to the ACC Tournament Championship game on May 25.

Thursday - Clemson 8-2

Clemson won their 9th in a row by jumping on FSU for 6 runs in the first 4 innings combined with a solid starting performance by Goose to win the first game in the series.

Wilkerson opened up the scoring in the first inning with a solo shot to right-center, which was the first HR given up by Seminole starter Peter Miller (L, 6-2). In the 2nd, McGibbon reached on an infield single, Brittle was HBP, and Slaton slapped a double to RF to make it 2-0. After Miller walked Maleeke Gibson he was pulled, but Wilkerson struck out looking and Duggar grounded to 2nd to end the inning.

In the 3rd, Clemson put up 3 more runs to make it 5-0. Garrett Boulware led off with a walk and Kennedy reached 2nd on a poor throw from LF on a single, putting men at 2nd and 3rd. Krieger scored Boulware with a grounder to short and Brittle later hit a long one to left-center that was poorly played again and Tom ended up with an inside-the-park 2-run HR. No errors were called in the inning by the scorer.

The Tigers put up a single run in the 4th and 2 more in the 6th, while FSU could only muster 2 in the 7th of of Kyle Schnell.

Goose (W, 9-3) went 6, giving up 3 hits, while walking 3 Noles. Campbell pitched two hitless innings to end the game.

Wilkerson and Duggar both went 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored each. Shane Kennedy also went 2-for-5 and McGibbon 2-for-4.

Friday - FSU 2-1

A classic pitching duel between Luke Weaver and the combo of Crownover and Schmidt, and we only had one bad inning.

Crownover had a shaky first that was the difference in the game. Brett Knief led off with a single and Stewart a double. Crownover hit McGee and Marcus Davis singled home both RISP. It was the first time Matthew gave up runs in the first and this was the game. He got the next 3 batters out, and he was very solid the rest of the way.

However he was pulled in the 5th after a little tightness in the throwing elbow. As soon as he threw the pitch he could be seen shaking the arm, and they pulled him immediately for Schmidt. Clate surprisingly did very well against the Seminole lineup, giving up not a single hit the rest of the game. Hopefully this builds his confidence and we can count on him to start in the Tournaments.

Clemson could do little with Luke Weaver. We had men on in most innings but could not get any thing with runners on base. The most disappointing thing was the number of called 3rd strikes, Clemson hitters did not protect the plate at all with 2 strikes.

Wilkerson was the only player in the game with multiple hits, as he went 3-for-4 with a steal. Kennedy added two walks, but his 11-game hitting streak came to an end. Clemson outhit Florida State 7-5 and had two more batters reach base than the Seminoles.

Saturday - FSU 6-1

At the plate, more of the same. Clemson put 16 men on base in the game and couldn't get anyone home after the first inning, leaving 10 men in scoring position.

Clemson starter Zack Erwin didn't have it today. In 2 IP, he gave up 6 hits and 3 runs, one of which scored on a double given up by Jon Meyer in relief in the 3rd. Patrick Andrews was roughed up in the 6th and Campbell couldn't get by without giving up another.

Nole starter Brandon Leibrandt went 5, giving up 9 hits and 2 walks but only the single run for his 9th win.

Clemson left the bases juiced in the 4th and 6th, and 2 men on in the 9th. Everything we hit with men on was a weak grounder or right at someone.