March 18, 2000
FURMAN WINS SLUGFEST OVER VMI BASEBALL, 25-18
Greenville, SC - The Furman Paladins (6-15-1, 2-4-1) poured across eight runs in both the first and fourth innings to pull away from VMI (7-11, 4-9), 25-18, Saturday at Patchin Field. The teams were slated to play a doubleheader, but the nearly four-hour contest forced the teams to reschedule the doubleheader for Sunday.
The two teams combined for 33 runs and 44 hits in the game that lasted 3:54. Both pitching staffs combined for 11 walks, seven wild pitches, and five hit batters.
Furman broke the game open in the fourth inning with eight runs on seven hits. Leading 9-7, the Paladins' Chris Valdes led off the frame with a homer to left, and followed a three-run blast later in the inning. Furman also got runs in the inning off a two-run single by Will Daugs, a Clint Hill double, and a Tommy John run scoring single.
VMI closed Furman's lead to six, 19-13, after five innings sparked by an Eric Walker three-run blast, but the Paladins responded with five runs on four hits in the seventh.
Hill collected four hits and knocked in five runs while Valdes finished three-for-seven with five RBI's for the Paladins.
Then Paladins sent 12 men to the plate in the top of ther first and took advantage of a VMI error and three wild pitches to score eight runs, all but one unearned.
Furman pitcher Alex Vogel pitched 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win in relief and evenedf his recorded to 1-1. VMI's Josh Spradin last just one inning and fell to 1-1.
The teams will play a nine inning game at noon Sunday and follow with a seven inning contest.