Furman 17, UNC Greensboro 4
Furman scored 13 of its 17 runs in the third and fourth innings while banging
out nine extra-base hits en route to a 17-4 Southern Conference win over the
baseball team April 30 in Greensboro. With the loss UNCG (32-18, 19-7 SoCon)
falls to third in the league, one loss behind The Citadel (31-17, 18-6) and
Georgia Southern (29-19, 18-6), who are tied first. The Citadel defeated Charleston
7-5 and Georgia Southern fell at Appalachian State 13-10 April 30.
The Paladins (21-24-1, 13-9-1 Socon) scored five runs in the third and eight
in the fourth to take a 14-2 lead. The third inning was highlighted by a leadoff
triple to center field by Chris Valdes, a two-run triple to center by Danny
Rueckel, and a two-run single to left by Clint Hill. In the fourth, Cole Hubka
hit a two-run double down the left field line, reliever Sean Connors walked
in two runs, Valdes hit a three-run triple to center field, and Ryan Presnell
hit an RBI double to left center.
The Spartans scored one run in the first on an RBI double to right center
by Jeremy Purcell, one run in the third on a Purcell single to right that knocked
in Shane Schumaker, who had hit a triple to right center, and twice in the eighth
on a two-run double by Richard Hopp. Furman scored three runs in the ninth on
a two-run throwing error by Jason Sarvis and an RBI single by Jeff Adkisson.
Toby David (2-4), the Paladins' starting pitcher, tossed his first complete
game of the season, allowing all four runs on 10 hits and striking out four.
Presnell was three-for-six with three runs and two doubles, Valdes was four-for-five
with four runs and two triples, and Rueckel was three-for-five with two runs,
a double and a triple for Furman.
Ted Toler (2-4) took the loss in two-thirds of an inning of relief. Five Spartan
pitchers gave up 16 hits and struck out six. Schumaker led the Spartans offensively,
going four-for-five with three runs, a double and a triple. Purcell was four-for-four.
UNCG travels to No. 14 UNC Chapel Hill May 2 for a non-conference game at 7 pm and returns home to host UNC Wilmington in its final home date of the season May 6 at 6 pm. Furman hosts The Citadel in a SoCon series May 6-7, beginning with a doubleheader at Noon May 6.