TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a battle of college baseball powerhouses, No. 2 Clemson overcame a late deficit to secure a 6-3 win over No. 5 Florida State on Saturday night at Dick Howser Stadium. The game turned dramatically in the eighth inning, when Clemson outfielder Cam Cannarella delivered the decisive blow—a two-out, bases-clearing triple that shifted the momentum and ultimately sealed the Tigers’ comeback victory.
The highly anticipated showdown lived up to its billing early on, with both teams showcasing the kind of pitching, defense, and timely hitting that has made them staples at the top of the national rankings. Florida State struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to take a 1-0 lead. Clemson responded with a pair of runs in the fourth, only to see the Seminoles claw back and tie it at 2-2 in the fifth.
By the seventh inning, Florida State had reclaimed a narrow 3-2 advantage behind strong relief pitching and a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Jaime Ferrer. The Seminoles seemed poised to hold on in front of a packed home crowd, but Clemson had other plans.
In the top of the eighth, with two outs and the bases loaded, Cannarella stepped to the plate against Florida State closer Conner Whittaker. On a 1-1 pitch, Cannarella lined a sinking shot into the right-center field gap, clearing the bases and igniting the Clemson dugout. The three-run triple gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead and stunned the home fans into silence.
“It was just about staying locked in and finding a pitch I could drive,” Cannarella said after the game. “I knew I had to come through for my guys in that spot. We never doubted ourselves.”
Clemson tacked on an insurance run in the ninth thanks to a sacrifice fly by first baseman Blake Wright, and left-hander Tristan Smith closed out the final two innings with a dominant relief appearance. Smith struck out four of the six batters he faced to earn the save, preserving the Tigers’ 6-3 win and clinching a key road victory in ACC play.
Clemson head coach Erik Bakich praised his team’s resilience. “This group has fight. We didn’t let the scoreboard dictate our energy or approach,” Bakich said. “Cam’s hit was huge, but it was a team effort all night.”
With the win, Clemson improved to 38-10 overall and tightened its grip on a potential top national seed. Florida State, now 35-12, will look to bounce back in the rubber match of the weekend series.
The victory was a statement for the Tigers, not only in the standings but also as a demonstration of their depth, grit, and ability to deliver under pressure. And at the center of it all was Cannarella—a sophomore with ice in his veins—delivering the kind of moment that defines a season.
