ACC softball championship recap: Highlights from Clemson’s comeback win over Florida State
Clemson softball
achieved several milestones during Saturday’s event
ACC Softball Tournament championship.
The Tigers secured their spot with a 2-1 victory over Florida State thanks to a two-run homer hit by Kylee Johnson in the top of the seventh inning at Harrington Athletics Village in Brighton, Massachusetts.
NCAA softball tournament
.
The ACC Softball Tournament title marks the first championship in the program’s history for the Tigers. This victory also represents their inaugural win.
Clemson
Over FSU, and it was the first instance where the Seminoles had fallen behind in 2025 after maintaining their lead for six innings. Prior to this match, they were undefeated with a record of 30-0 for the season.
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FSU pitchers Ashtyn Danley and Julia Apsel held Clemson scoreless with just two hits, seven strikeouts, and five walks over the initial six innings. Nonetheless, Apsel issued a walk to Marian Collins at the start of the seventh inning and was then substituted by freshman Jazzy Francik.
Francik fanned the initial batter she encountered, however, Johnson hit a 2-2 pitch out of the park, giving Clemson the advantage. Later in the same frame, Brooke McCubbin let the opening pair of batters advance, yet managed to strike out Jahni Kerr, Katie Dack, and Michaela Edenfield to escape the bases-loaded situation and secure the victory.
Florida State scored its lone run on a solo home run from Hallie Wacaser in the bottom of the third inning. However, the Seminoles struggled with runners on, going 2-for-14 in such situations. FSU left nine runners on base.
Clemson
also achieved a comeback victory on Friday
in the semifinal after trailing Virginia Tech 9-2 entering the sixth inning. The Tigers used an eight-run inning to propel themselves to victory. FSU came in seeking its 20th conference tournament title.
Catch up here with updates, highlights and more from Clemson’s ACC softball championship over Florida State:
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ACC softball championship live score
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Clemson beats Florida State 2-1 to claim their first ACC Tournament title.
With runners on first and second base and no outs, Brooke McCubbin managed to stay focused and retired FSU’s batters at positions 2, 3, and 4 consecutively, helping Clemson secure their first ACC Tournament title.
McCubbin retired Jahni Kerr on a fly out, struck out Katie Dack and got Michaela Edenfield out on a fly out to preserve the win.
Entering the seventh inning down 1-0, the Tigers surged ahead thanks to a two-run homer by Kylee Johnson with one batter up.
FSU leading by two in the top of the seventh
Annabelle Widra starts the seventh inning at bat for her team, replacing Krystina Hartley with a hit. The FSU player leading off, Isa Torres, gets to base due to an infield hit. This brings runners to first and second with no outs for FSU.
Kylee Johnson gives Clemson lead with 2-run home run
Just like that, Clemson holds a 2-1 lead over FSU in the ACC championship game following a two-run home run off freshman Jazzy Francik in the top of the seventh inning.
Florida State will send its 9-1-2 hitters in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jazzy Francik comes in to wrap up the game for FSU.
After issuing a leadoff walk to Marian Collins at the start of the top of the sixth inning, FSU head coach Lonni Alameda decides to bring in freshman Jazzy Francik as a replacement for Julia Apsel in the pitcher’s position for the remaining three outs. This move comes after Francik secured eight saves this season along with pitching a no-hitter.
Michaela Edenfield spots Kennedy Ariail attempting to pilfer at the conclusion of the 6th.
FSU catcher
Michaela Edenfield
saw Kennedy Ariaiel trying to steal second base during the top of the sixth inning when there were two outs. Currently, the Tigers are behind 1-0 and only have three more outs left for a potential rally.
However, initially, the Seminoles get an opportunity to put an end to those insurance runs.
Clemson went scoreless for the first five innings following Krystina Hartley’s outstanding defensive play.
Krystina Hartley delivered yet another impressive defensive play for FSU when she fielded a sluggish dribbler heading towards second base. She dived and quickly transferred the ball from her glove to first base, ensuring the runner was called out.
Heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Seminoles have a 1-0 advantage.
Clemson narrowly avoids trouble again in the fourth inning.
Florida State had runners on first and second with one out following Amaya Ross being hit by a pitch. However, Brooke McCubbin retired Jaysoni Beachum on a fielder’s choice and Hallie Wacaser, who hit a solo home run in the third inning, on a flyball to escape the threat.
It’s still 1-0 FSU heading into the top of the fifth inning. The Tigers send their 9-1-2 hitters to the plate to begin the inning.
Brooke McCubbin takes over for Reese Basinger for Clemson
Brooke McCubbin has taken over for Reese Basinger in the circle in the bottom of the fourth inning following a leadoff single by
Michaela Edenfield.
Basinger allowed one run on four hits and struck out one batter in three innings of work.
Julia Apsel takes over for Ashtyn Danley in circle
In the top of the fourth inning, left-handed pitcher Julia Apsel replaced Ashtyn Danley in the pitching role. During her time on the mound, Danley didn’t concede any runs or hits across three innings pitched, recording three walks and striking out two batters.
Apsel, who transferred from Hofstra, began the game and threw 2 ⅓ innings in a semifinal matchup against Duke on Friday.
Hallie Wacaser secures an early 1-0 advantage for FSU with a home run.
In the bottom of the third inning, FSU’s eighth-place batter, Hallie Wacaser, smashes a solo home run to dead center field, giving FSU a 1-0 advantage. This marks the team’s 76th home run of the season and her seventh homer of the year.
FSU has not scored any runs in the first two innings.
Angela Bueno got on base due to an error, and Amaya Ross laid down a perfect bunt for a single, loading the bases for Florida State with no one out at the start of the frame. Nevertheless, Auburn managed to turn a double play and subsequently caught Ross trying to swipe third, thus neutralizing the rally.
We’re still tied at zero as we head into the top of the third inning.
Isa Torres hits a spectacular web Gem to help FSU escape a difficult situation.
In the top of the second inning, Clemson fills the bases with two outs, bringing up lead-off batter Alex Brown. However, FSU’s shortstop responds with an impressive diving catch near second base to get Brown out and prevent Clemson from scoring.
Florida State University and Clemson remain tied at zero after the initial frame.
Despite a two-out walk for Clemson and a one-out single for FSU, both teams go scoreless in the first inning of the ACC Softball Tournament championship game.
Ashtyn Danley strikes out Alex Brown to open game
Florida State pitcher strikes out Clemson leadoff hitter Alex Brown on three pitches to open the 2025 ACC Tournament championship game.
Pregame
Florida State starting lineup
Here’s a look at the starting lineup for Florida State vs. Clemson:
- Isa Torres, SS
- Jahni Kerr, CF
- Katie Dack, RF
- Michaela Edenfield, C
- Angelee Bueno, 1B
- Amaya Ross, DP
- Jaysoni Beachum, 3B
- Hallie Wacaser, LF
- Krystina Hartley, 2B
- Ashtyn Danley, P
Clemson starting lineup
Here’s a look at the starting lineup for Clemson:
- Alex Brown, 3B
- Maddie Moore, 2B
- Julia Knowler, 1B
- Macey Cintron, DP
- Aby Viera, C
- Marian Collins, SS
- Taylor Perkins, RF
- Kylee Johnson, LF
- Jamison Brockenbrough, CF
- Reese Basinger, P
FSU arrives for ACC championship game
FSU has reached the stadium and is prepared to gear up for its ACC Tournament championship match against Clemson. The Seminoles aim for their 20th ACC tournament title, whereas the Tigers are looking to secure their inaugural victory in this competition.
The ACC Softball Tournament final match will commence at 3 p.m.
The first pitch for the ACC Softball Championship Game between Florida State and Clemson has been delayed by 30 minutes and will now start at 3 p.m. ET rather than the originally scheduled time of 2:30 p.m. ET.
The ACC softball championship start time today
-
Time
: 3 p.m. ET -
Date
: Saturday, May 9 -
Location
Harrington Athletics Village (located in Brighton, Massachusetts)
The opening pitch for the 2025 ACC softball tournament championship game is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 9, at Harrington Athletics Village in Brighton, Massachusetts.
Where can you watch the ACC softball championship?
-
TV channel
: ESPN -
Live stream
: ESPN app |
Fub
o
(free trial)
The 2025 ACC softball tournament championship game will air on ESPN.
For fans seeking streaming options, those include the ESPN app and
Fubo
, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Florida State softball schedule 2025
Below are FSU’s last five results. To view the Seminoles’ full 2025 schedule,
click here
.
-
May 2:
Florida State 13, Virginia Tech 4 -
May 3:
Florida State 8, Virginia Tech 0 (6 innings) -
May 4:
Virginia Tech 8, Florida State 6 -
May 8:
Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 0 (6 innings) ACC Tournament) -
May 9:
Florida State 3, Duke 2 (ACC Tournament)
Clemson softball schedule 2025
Here are Clemson’s most recent five outcomes. For the complete 2025 schedule of the Tigers, please refer to it.
click here.
-
April 25:
Clemson 6, Georgia Tech 2 -
April 26:
Clemson 19, Georgia Tech 0 (after 5 innings) -
April 27
Clemson 8, Georgia Tech 2 -
May 8:
Clemson 7, Virginia 4 ( ACC Tournament ) -
May 9:
Clemson 10, Virginia Tech 9 ( ACC Tournament )
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
ACC softball championship recap: Highlights from Clemson’s comeback win over Florida State
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