May 14, 2000
EAST TENNESSEE STATE BASEBALL DEFEATS FURMAN, 7-6
Johnson City, Tenn. -- East Tennessee State's Ryan McKinney scored on a Jeremy Terry ground out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Bucs a 7-6 win against Furman in the regular-season finale at ETSU's Cardinal Park.
In the ninth, McKinney led off the frame with a double. After a Chris Mayes sacrfice moved McKinney to third, Terry grounded out to first base but McKinney was able to elude the Furman tag at the plate and score the game-winning run.
The Buc offense was led by Chad Boruff who went 3-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Shannon Carter and Ed Sparks both collected two hits in the final home game of their ETSU careers. Furman's James Bright and Justin Maderer both stroked three hits for the visitors.
Bright led-off the game with a double to right field and later scored on an RBI ground out from Chris Valdes. The Bucs scored two in the second -- on three doubles -- to take a 2-1 lead. The two-baggers were notched by Boruff, Nathan Copeland and Carter.
The Bucs (21-29, 15-15 SoCon) loaded the bases in the fourth with one out. A McKinney sac fly scored Boruff who had started the inning with a double. ETSU extended to a 5-1 lead with two in the home half of the fifth. Terry singled and scored on a Sparks triple. Sparks later scored on Boruff's third double of the game.
The Paladins (23-29-1, 15-13-1 SoCon) rallied with five runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. Eight consecutive batters reached base but a pick-off and a caught stealing helped ETSU end the threat. The Bucs responded with one in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 6-6.
ETSU's Jackson Simerly pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, to pick up his first win of the season. Furman's Rob Purvis hurled 2.2 innings and dropped to 2-2 on the season.
With the win, ETSU finished fifth in the SoCon standings and will face Furman in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17.