Florida State takes on Clemson for Easter: Game thread, starting pitchers, recaps, how to watch

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Snapping a 10 game losing streak, Florida State (13-16, 4-9) took game one as it hosts the Clemson Tigers (17-14, 2-8) in a Easter weekend series.

Just like FSU, Clemson has lost three weekend series in a row though the Tigers were only swept in one of those. As of late, they beat No. 17 Coastal Carolina in a midweek matchup by score of 17-7 in seven innings.

Florida State got close against Jacksonville earlier in the week but wasn’t able to take advantage of the opportunities it built up.

With a chance to get back on the right track, can FSU get over the hump vs. Clemson?

• Saturday: Florida State drops game, series to Clemson

Florida State (13-18, 4-11) never found their footing against Clemson (19-14, 4-8) in the series finale falling 6-2. After getting good starts from pitchers in the first two games of the series Andrew Armstrong only lasted 2.2 innings in his first start, giving up six runs and earning a 6-2 loss.

Clemson started the game with a single and it looked like it wouldn’t affect FSU but a miscommunication between Jordan Carrion and Titan Kamaka on a tough play up the middle kept the inning alive. A double to left by by Blake Wright scored a run for the Tigers but that’s all they could get.

The second inning was a different story. Clemson used a walk and two singles with two outs to bring home their second run of the game. Another walk and a grand slam by Clemson starting pitcher Caden Grice ended Armstrong’s day and staked Clemson to a 6-0 lead they would never surrender.

On the plus side Carson Montgomery pitched 5.1 innings of two hit ball, striking out six and walking just two. Jamie Arnold also pitched well in his two innings of one hit work but the damage was already done and the FSU offense didn’t have much of an answer for Grice.

The ‘Noles picked up two runs in the seventh on a two run laser over the left field fence by Cam Smith but that was also the only extra base hit FSU had. Clemson pitched around James Tibbs, who ended the day with all three of the Seminole’s walks, and there was nobody else in this lineup that could really hurt the Tigers.

Up Next: FSU travels to Gainesville to take on the Gators, who have yet to lose a series this year and just took a road series from #11 Tennessee. The game is Tuesday at 6:00.

• Friday: Clemson evens series with win

Florida State (13-17, 4-10) finally got a glimpse of what a Link Jarrett team looks like in 2023 but it was the team wearing orange and purple that provided that vision. Clemson (18-14, 3-8) got timely hits, limited their strike outs, played good defense, ran aggressively and stole opportunities from their opponents. FSU did get a good start from Connor Whittaker in his second start but made too many mental mistakes, unable to capitalize on it falling 8-1.

In the fourth inning Clemson opened up the scoring getting two runner aboard with a bunt single and walk before Blake Wright brought home a Clemson run with a single. Whittaker was able to limit the damage by getting a ground out to end the inning. Similarly in the sixth Clemson got runners on second and third by way of a single and walk and Wright brought a runner home with a single to center. Unfortunately DeAmez Ross fumbled the ball in center and missed the cut off man allowing Wight to move up giving Clemson runners at second and third with one out. The Tigers dropped down a squeeze bunt and sent the runner from second home getting under the throw from first and taking a 4-0 lead.

Comparatively in the bottom of the Florida State fourth Cam Smith led off with a double off the fence in right and moved up on a Nander DeSedas sacrifice bunt. He was then picked off on a hidden ball trick meaning that nobody wearing garnet and gold was paying attention to the game.

Clemson would tack on a few more runs late as Whittaker’s day ended in the eighth after a walk and double. Brennen Oxford would come in and give up a double in his only batter, who moved up to third on a throwing error. He was brought in one batter later on a single given up by new pitcher Brandon Walker. Walker would get the next two batters out but not before Clemson added another run on three wild pitches.

After a Clemson home run in the top of the ninth FSU would finally get on the scoreboard using a couple of singles sandwiching a walk. They would proceed to load the bases with another single but couldn’t do anything more. It was too little to late for the ‘Noles at that point.

The ‘Noles didn’t generate much offense as they struggled to get base runners.

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• ‘Noles take game one of Easter weekend

Jackson Baumeister was phenomenal for FSU (13-16, 4-9) striking out 14 in seven innings and giving up no runs. He gave up four hits and only one was for extra bases. Florida State really needed a start like this and Baumeister was up to the task. FSU took game one over Clemson (17-14, 2-8) 5-1 snapping their 10 game losing streak.

Baumeister immediately got all of the runs he need in the first two batters as DeAmez Ross singled and Jaimie Ferrer brought him home with a home run. Florida State leaned heavily into the extra base hit as four of their eight hits went for extra bases including two home runs.

Unfortunately the issues of the FSU bullpen did raise their head. In the eighth Jamie Arnold surrendered a lead off walk before getting a ground out. Doug Kirkland walked the only two batters he faced to load the bases giving way to Carson Montgomery. Monty pitched well though despite walking two as he only allowed one run to score and pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two in his 1.2 innings of work.

It was a rough day for Clemson as the softball team doubled up the Tigers remaining undefeated against their foes from South Carolina.