CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Furman used a 17-hit offensive attack, including four by freshman centerfielder Clint Hill and junior left-handed pitcher Toby David recorded his second complete game of the season to lead Furman to a 15-3 win over the College of Charleston in Game 12 of the Wendy's/Pepsi Cola Southern Conference Tournament Friday evening at Riley Park. The loss eliminated the Cougars from the championship event.
Furman (26-30-1) advances to play The Citadel at noon Saturday for the right to meet Georgia Southern in the tournament championship game. The College of Charleston finished its season with a 28-28-1 record.
Furman quickly erased a 1-0 deficit by scoring seven times in the bottom of the first inning. The Paladins picked up six hits during the frame, four straight with two out, to build a 7-1 lead. A bases-loaded walk to Ryan Presnell forced Cougar starter Shawn Holland (1-3) out of the contest without recording an out before the Paladins greeted reliever Aaron Black with five hits, including a two-run double by Brandon Barrett.
The Paladins added two more runs in the second, using a Danny Rueckel RBI-single to score Chris Valdes and a run-producing single to centerfield by Cole Hubka.
Josh Edgeworth, who lead CofC in a losing cause with a pair of hits, trimmed the Furman lead to 9-2 with a run-scoring double to plate Matt Lauderdale in the top of the third inning.
Furman added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings before scoring four more in the seventh inning to put the game away for good.
David (4-5), who threw 122 pitches during the complete game effort, allowed just four hits and three runs while striking out six to earn the win.
In addition to Hill's four hits, Adam Etherington contributed three while Valdes, Rueckel, Hubka and Barrett added a pair of hits each to lead the Paladins offensively.