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Clemson comes from behind for first-ever ACC Tournament title

Grace Johnsonby:Grace Johnson•05/10/25
Screenshot 2025-05-10 at 2.54.06 PM
Courtesy of Clemson Softball

There hadn’t been an upset in this year’s ACC tournament—until Saturday, No. 1 seed Florida State pursued its 20th ACC Championship Title, while second-seed Clemson hunted for its first ever.

Heading into the ACC Championship, the two teams had met only seven times, and Clemson had never beaten Florida State.

But the Tigers defied the odds with a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Seminoles.

The Tigers threatened early, loading the bases in the second inning. With two outs, Florida State shortstop Isa Torres made a spectacular diving grab on a line drive from Alex Brown, robbing Clemson of the chance to score first.

The game stayed scoreless until senior outfielder Hallie Wacaser launched a solo home run to give Florida State a 1-0 lead — her seventh of the season.

Florida State’s deep bullpen kept Clemson quiet through most of the game. Sophomore Ashtyn Danley started in the circle, throwing three innings before handing the ball to Julia Apsel. Combined, they held the Tigers to just two hits over six innings.

Down to their final three outs, Clemson faced the challenge of cracking Florida State’s pitching. Apsel walked the leadoff batter in the seventh, prompting head coach Lonni Alameda to turn to freshman right-hander Jazzy Francik.

Francik struck out freshman Taylor Pipkins for the first out, but the next batter, sophomore outfielder Kylee Johnson, finally broke through. Johnson crushed a two-run homer out of the ball park to give Clemson a 2-1 lead, its first of the game.

Johnson’s blast marked the first earned runs Florida State had surrendered in the tournament and gave her team a chance.

Despite trailing, Florida State fought back in the bottom of the seventh. Widra and Torres opened with back-to-back singles. But Clemson’s Brooke McCubbin responded, retiring the next three batters via two pop-ups and a strikeout to seal the victory.

This was a monumental win for the Clemson softball program. It’s first win over Florida State, it’s first ever ACC Championship Title and it was in comeback fashion. Before the game, the Seminoles were 30-0 entering the sixth inning with the lead.

But there is always mayhem in May.

Clemson’s first-ever ACC Championship Title earns the Tigers an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while Florida State awaits its seeding spot in Sunday’s selection show.

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