In Brighton, Massachusetts, the Clemson Tigers emerged victorious in a thrilling finish against the Florida State Seminoles, clinching the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title with a 2-1 win. The game turned dramatically in favor of the Tigers during the final inning when Kylee Johnson smashed a decisive two-run homer in the seventh, ensuring a come-from-behind win.
This triumph marked a significant achievement for the Tigers, as it was their first ever victory against the Seminoles in eight meetings. The Clemson Tigers, who only began their softball program in 2020, have now made five consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament under the leadership of head coach John Rittman.
The Seminoles initially seized a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a solo home run by Hallie Wacaser off Clemson’s starting pitcher, Brooke McCubbin, who concluded the game with a record of 15-5. Both teams played fiercely, maintaining the scoreline until the seventh inning.
Florida State’s starting pitcher, Ashtyn Danley, performed excellently at the beginning by allowing only two hits and three walks over three innings without conceding any runs. She was succeeded by Julia Apsel, who kept Clemson hitless over the next three innings but was relieved by Jazzy Francik after walking Marian Collins at the start of the final inning. Although Francik managed to strike out Taylor Pipkens swiftly, Kylee Johnson’s remarkable home run on a 2-2 pitch propelled Clemson to the lead.
Despite a strong performance, McCubbin allowed only two leadoff singles in the seventh inning to pinch-hitter Annabelle Widra and Isa Torres but quickly managed to retire the next three batters, securing the victory for Clemson.
The Florida State Seminoles had made their 27th appearance in an ACC championship match after edging past Duke 3-2 in the semifinals. While the Seminoles captured a national championship back in 2018 and were runners-up in 2021 and 2023, they have also made it to the Women’s College World Series 12 times in 36 NCAA Tournament appearances.
For Clemson, this victory represents a landmark achievement as their first conference tournament win, building on their success as regular-season champions in 2021. The Tigers have outscored their opponents 404-179 during the season; however, they did not face off against FSU in regular play. The Seminoles’ prior encounter against Clemson in championship settings resulted in an 8-6 victory in the 2022 ACC title game and a 1-0 loss to Duke in 2021 during their only previous title game appearance.