CLEMSON, S.C. – On Saturday, May 9, the Clemson Tigers defeated the Florida State Seminoles 4-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The game was tied 3-3 heading into the eighth inning. A wild pitch by Florida State reliever Cade O’Leary allowed Luke Gaffney to score from third base. This gave Clemson the lead as they went on to win.
The Tigers trailed 3-0 to start the game before scoring four unanswered runs to win the contest.
Clemson head coach Erik Bakich talked about his team’s major win over the Seminoles.
“I thought we played all phases well during the middle to back half of the game,” Bakich said. “We got down to a deficit, and our team could’ve said, ‘It is not our day.’ However, our players really stuck with it.”
Jarren Purify carries Clemson’s offense
Jarren Purify spearheaded the offense Clemson had against Florida State. He had a two-run home run and an RBI knock during his two-hit game on Saturday.
Purify talked about his team’s ability to mount a comeback on Florida State when the Seminoles held an early lead.
“We have been getting punched in the mouth all year,” Purify told World Baseball Network. “It is nothing new to us. So, it was time for us to step up and make our move.”
Danny Nelson had a massive relief outing for the Tigers
Danny Nelson replaced Clemson’s starter, Michael Sharman, in the fifth inning of the game. He went on to have an electric relief outing.
In four innings of work, Nelson allowed no hits, no runs, and struck out three Florida State hitters. He retired all 12 Seminole hitters he faced and threw 29 strikes out of 39 total pitches.
Bakich talked about who Nelson is as a player after Clemson’s win and what the future of his collegiate career holds for him.
“He [Nelson] can be one of those guys who starts in the future for us,” Bakich said. “He throws strikes and really can command the ball.”
Up next for Clemson
The Clemson Tigers now have a 30-21 overall record after Saturday’s win over Florida State.
The rubber match between the Seminoles and Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium is on Sunday, May 10. The first pitch is at 3 p.m. ET.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Clemson’s Luke Gaffney runs the bases during an NCAA baseball game against South Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Segra Park in Columbia, S.C. Clemson won 4-1. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
