It’s uncommon to see multiple college baseball games end in crazy, electrifying fashion midweek, especially when most teams and fans’ attention are set on their upcoming conference foe days away.
March 25 deviated from that reality, producing multiple upsets, top-tier finishes and historic moments.
Here are some of the biggest storylines from an exciting Tuesday of baseball:
Alex Lodise hits cycle, walk-off grand slam to lift No. 4 Florida State over Florida
Rivalries bring the best out of both teams — there’s always a sense that there’s more on the line than just a win. The contests produce the most uncanny results, while a few players rise to the occasion.
No. 4 Florida State and Florida were no different on Tuesday. It was a video game-like finish, one that can only be conjured up in a movie’s final minutes — thanks to FSU junior shortstop Alex Lodise.
Lodise hit a walk-off grand slam to carry the Seminoles over the Gators, 8-4, to even the series at 1-1, and marked the program’s first walk-off home run since 2022. Additionally, the blast completed Lodise’s quest for the cycle, hitting FSU’s first since 2019.
WALK IT OFF ALEX LODISE. What a win for @FSUBaseball over Florida. My goodness grand slam to end it! Massive victory for the #Noles. What a week with wins over UM and UF. Serious guts. pic.twitter.com/hoyYqWsXx8
— Ariya Massoudi (@AriyaMassoudi) March 26, 2025
***Also have this video from the team’s account, just not the best angle: https://x.com/FSUBaseball/status/1904719030209908955
The Seminoles led 3-2 entering the ninth, but Florida scored two in the final inning to give them a 4-3, needing just three outs to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Gators never reached the desired number, not even punching out one batter. Sophomore right-hander Alex Philpott either hit or walked the first three batters, giving FSU bases loaded with zero outs. That’s when the show started.
Junior right fielder Gage Harrelson hit a single to second, scoring junior designated hitter Jaxson West to tie the game at 4-4. After that, Lodise walked it off, driving the first pitch of the at-bat over VyStar Ballpark’s right field wall.
It was a no-doubter, and Lodise knew it. He stared at the finished product jet into oblivion and turned back to FSU’s dugout to pump his fist in excitement before rounding the bases. The hit etched the shortstop’s name in the rivalry’s history books.
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Coastal Carolina upsets No. 6 Clemson in midweek battle
Coastal Carolina spoiled No. 6 Clemson’s homestand finale on Tuesday, beating the Tigers 8-2 and collecting its second ACC win of the season.
Two swings on 0-1 counts determined the contest’s fate.
Still tied 0-0 in the third inning, the Chanticleers looked to get on the board after starting right-hander Luke Jones worked out of a bases-loaded jam. Four batters in, redshirt senior left fielder Sebastian Alexander answered the bell, blasting a three-run homer to left center to put Coastal Carolina up 3-0.
And they weren’t done just yet. Sophomore designated hitter Blagen Pado joined Alexander in the big fly business, hitting a three-run blast four batters later to nearly the same spot of Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Behind three hits, the Chanticleers had built a 6-0 lead.
THAT ONE’S NOT COMING BACK 🚫🚀#NCAABaseball x 🎥 ACCNX / @CoastalBaseball pic.twitter.com/ruo82B1ile
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 26, 2025
Coastal Carolina’s third-inning heater marked the second time in Clemson’s last three games that they’ve allowed six runs in an inning.
Although the Tigers finished with the same number of hits as the Chanticleers, they couldn’t string them together in big moments like their opponent. Jones had a lot to do with that early on, keeping Clemson off-balanced and allowing just two hits over four innings of work. The Tigers had runners on first and second with zero outs in the eighth — an opportune time to rally — but scored just one run. A quiet outing at the plate has been a rarity for the Tigers this season, who’ve scored at least five runs in 23 of their 27 contests.
The Chanticleers, who entered the matchup on a two-game losing streak, look to their weekend series against Texas State to keep the good times rolling. Clemson will wrap up its 16-game homestand on Wednesday welcoming in Presbyterian.
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Missouri State comes back to beat No. 2 Arkansas in extras
Up 13-8 entering the ninth inning on Missouri State, No. 2 Arkansas was closing in on ‘cruise control territory,’ and for good reason.
Before their nonconference battle, the Razorbacks had won nine of their last 10, rode a seven-game win streak and had only given up runs in the final inning of two of 14 games where they led by at least five runs. Counterattacks haven’t been a common theme against Arkansas this season.
The Bears changed that on Tuesday, scoring five runs in the ninth and another in extra to hand the Razorbacks their third loss of the season. It was Missouri State’s highest-ranked win in program history.
The comeback started with one out. Senior second baseman Nick Rodriguez and junior left fielder Jake McCutcheon hit back-to-back singles to right, while junior first baseman Taeg Gollert followed it up with a single to center and scored Rodriguez. Queue the rally caps.
And the party wasn’t close to being over. The Bears’ next five batters would reach base and the two batters after Gollert would hit a double and single. By the end of the half inning, Missouri State had batted around and tied it at 13-13. The Razorbacks didn’t respond in the bottom of the ninth with two of three batters striking out, leaving the door open for the Bears in the 10th, who wasted no time.
Rodriguez, the first batter of the inning, blasted a go-ahead home run to left field on a full count to give Missouri State a 14-13 lead.
NICK ROD HOMERS AGAIN. BEARS LEAD!! pic.twitter.com/V73fr1fTWi
— Missouri State Baseball (@MoStateBSB) March 26, 2025
Although the Bears didn’t tack on any more runs after the big fly, it was enough to shock the Razorbacks and leave Fayetteville, AR. with a victory. Rodriguez finished the game 5-6 with two home runs, a combined 10 hits and runs and two RBIs. Missouri State’s 14 runs matched the program’s highest run total against Arkansas in the 90-game series history, and snapped the Razorbacks’ 19-0 record at home.
