Clemson tops No. 1 Florida State in series opener; Brittle’s hitting streak ends

CLEMSON – Clemson used the home run to beat No. 1 Florida State, 7-2, on Saturday night in the opener of a three-game series.

Spencer Kieboom hit a key three-run home run the sixth inning as Clemson (30-20, 15-10 ACC) posted a four-run inning to take a 5-2 lead.

Richie Shaffer and Citadel transfer Brad Felder also homered in the game for Clemson, which beat a No. 1 ranked team for the first time since defeating Arizona State in the 2010 College World Series.

Florida State, the nation’s consensus No. 1 team, fell to 40-10 overall and 21-4 in the ACC.

Clemson will go for a series win and postseason resume booster at 1 p.m. Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Sunday’s gametime was moved up due to the threat of inclement weather.

The only bad news for Clemson on Saturday was that Thomas Brittle went 0 for 3 to end his 22-game hitting streak.

Brittle had become the 19th Tiger to have a hitting streak of at least 20 games.

Clemson starting pitcher Dominic Leone did not factor in the decision. Against the ACC’s top scoring offense, Leone allowed two runs over five innings, allowing five hits and three walks. He struck out five. Florida State entered averaging seven runs per game.

Leone was relieved by hard-throwing freshman Daniel Gossett, who threw four shutout innings of relief to preserve the win.