CLEMSON, S.C. – Quincy Nieporte finished with three hits for sixth-ranked Florida State (29-13, 14-6 ACC), but two multi-run innings by Clemson (28-15, 11-13 ACC) provided the Tigers with a 7-3 win in the rubber game of the series on Monday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Nieporte (3-4) was one of six hitters in the FSU lineup with a hit and was one of two, along with Ben DeLuzio (1-4), to record a double. Steven Wells Jr. capped off his seventh start of the season with two RBI as he finished 1-for-4 at the plate.
Clemson took advantage of a double to left field by Chris Okey and three consecutive walks to assume an early 1-0 advantage in the first. However, Nieporte keyed a two-run second inning which allowed the Seminoles to assume the lead.
In Nieporte’s first at-bat of the game he singled through the left side of the infield. Two batters later DeLuzio dropped a one-out double to left field, moving Nieporte to third. Wells followed with a single to centerfield that provided FSU the 2-1 lead on a slide into home by DeLuzio.
FSU added to its lead in the third inning after Taylor Walls reached on a walk to lead off the frame. John Sansone connected on the fifth Seminole hit of the game and exploited a throwing error by Jordan Greene by moving to second on the play. Clemson reliever Pat Krall sailed his first pitch of the game behind home plate, allowing Walls to trot home for the 3-1 advantage.
The Tigers trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the fourth after Chase Pinder roped a double down the left field line to plate Weston Wilson from third. Clemson followed with its first multi-run inning of the game in the fifth, using an RBI single by Seth Beer and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Reed Rohlman to regain the advantage 4-3.
Clemson added a three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth when Beer sent a double into the left field corner to bring home the combination of Eli White and Okey. Beer scored two batters later, making for the 7-3 final, on a single to right by Weston Wilson.
Florida State will have return to action on Wednesday evening when it heads to DeLand to face Stetson at 6:30 p.m.
Seminole fans can always stay up-to-date with the Florida State Baseball team by following the official twitter page of the Seminoles (@FSUBaseball).
--Courtesy: Seminole Athletics--
