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Clemson wins ACC softball tournament title, defeats Florida State on 7th-inning home run

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz05/10/25NickSchultz_7
Clemson softball
© Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Amid a pitchers’ duel in the 2025 ACC softball tournament, Florida State needed two more outs to secure a title. But Clemson’s Kylee Johnson launched a two-run home run to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead – which stood as the difference as they stunned the Seminoles.

Johnson sent it into the parking lot of an adjacent building, not leaving any doubt as Clemson looked to seal a championship. But Florida State quickly threatened in the bottom half of the inning, putting runners on first and second with no one out.

However, Clemson was able to hold strong. Florida State went down 1-2-3 from there as the Tigers brought home their first-ever ACC tournament championship.

Both offenses were quiet throughout Saturday’s championship game. Florida State’s lone run came on a third-inning solo home run from Hallie Wacaser, and that held as the only score of the game into the seventh inning. FSU needed three more outs to bring home its 10th ACC tournament title under head coach Lonni Alameda.

Marian Collins led the top of the seventh off with a walk, and Jazzy Francik struck out Taylor Pipkins after that. Johnson then stepped to the plate and hit a long home run to center field. In a blink, Clemson was out in front 2-1 thanks to its first runs of the day.

Florida State threatened, though, in the bottom half. Annabelle Widra and Isa Torres reached quickly on singles, and Brooke McCubbin had to settle in quickly. She did just that, getting two flyouts and a strikeout on a nasty off-speed pitch to seal it. Clemson came back once again – and, in the process, brought home its first-ever ACC tournament championship.

McCubbin got the win in the circle, throwing four shutout innings and allowing four hits during that time. She took over for Reese Basinger, who gave up the lone run in the third inning as part of her three-inning showing.

Francik took the loss for Florida State after entering in the seventh inning. Johnson’s home run was the only hit she gave up as she followed an impressive relief showing from Julia Apsel, who didn’t allow a hit in three innings after taking over for Ashtyn Danley.

With the victory, Clemson secured the ACC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will find out its fate during Sunday’s selection show. It will mark the Tigers’ fifth straight appearance in the tournament, meaning they’ve been in the bracket every season since the program debuted in 2020.