The No. 10 Florida State Seminoles defeated the No. 21 Clemson Tigers 4-2 at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, extending their winning streak to 20 games and improving to 31-4 overall and 8-0 in the ACC. Freshman Anna Hinde delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer that broke a 2-2 tie and secured the victory for the Seminoles. The win marked the most FSU’s winning streak was tested this season, as Clemson proved to be a formidable opponent throughout the contest.
Hinde’s sixth homer of the season came after teammate Bella Ruggiero worked a two-out walk, setting up the crucial moment that put the Seminoles ahead for good. The blast gave Hinde 22 RBI on the season, tying her for the second most on the team among FSU players. The freshman tandem of Ruggiero and Hinde proved instrumental in keeping the Seminoles’ impressive streak alive against their toughest test yet.
Clemson struck first in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on a leadoff walk and hit by pitch to manufacture a 1-0 lead through back-to-back groundouts. The Tigers’ early advantage demonstrated their ability to compete with the highly-ranked Seminoles, setting the stage for a competitive battle throughout the game. FSU responded in the fourth inning when Jaysoni Beachum doubled and Shelby McKenzie singled, though Beachum was thrown out trying to score on the play.
The Seminoles took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning through a combination of aggressive baserunning and opportunistic hitting. After Ashtyn Danley walked and Kennedy Harp advanced both runners with a groundout, a Clemson error on a ball hit by Bella Ruggiero allowed both runners to score, giving FSU a 2-1 advantage. The lead proved short-lived as Clemson answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning.
Clemson tied the game at 2-2 after Bella Dimitrijevi walked the first batter she faced, and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base. Danley replaced Dimitrijevi in the circle, but back-to-back singles by the Tigers knotted the score and set up the dramatic finish. The pitching change highlighted the competitive nature of the contest and FSU’s willingness to make adjustments to secure the victory.
Danley and Dimitrijevi combined to pitch the entire game for FSU, with Danley throwing 3 2/3 innings and Dimitrijevi contributing 3 1/3 innings of work. The duo allowed just 2 runs on two hits and four walks while striking out three Tigers batters. Their combined effort kept Clemson’s offense in check and gave the Seminoles’ hitters opportunities to break through against the Tigers’ pitching staff.
The Seminoles will attempt to complete the sweep against Clemson when the teams meet again Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in a game that will be broadcast on the ACC Network. A victory would extend FSU’s winning streak to 21 games and maintain their perfect 9-0 record in ACC play this season.