April 7, 2001
Cougars Edge Furman, 2-1
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A Furman error allowed Jasha Balcom to score from second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth with the game-winner as the College of Charleston edged the Paladins, 2-1, in college baseball action Saturday before 542 at Patriots Point Field.
With the win the Cougars improve to 17-17 overall and 7-9 in league play. The Paladins fell to 19-15 and 9-7.
The winning rally began when Balcom doubled just inside the third base bag with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Matt Lauderdale followed with a line drive to deep right field that was dropped near the warning track by Chris Valdes for the game-deciding miscue. Ironically, Balcom reached on an error leading off the third and eventually scored on Greg Alden's pop fly single down the right field line for a 1-0 Charleston lead.
Furman scored an unearned run in the seventh when Cole Hubka singled with one out and moved to second on an error by Cougar shortstop Nick Orlandos. Hubka scored when Richie Dean lashed a single to right to make it 1-1.
Ryan Mau (2-4) got the win en route to recording Charleston's first complete game of the season. The Lake Mary, Fla., native allowed six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Corey Eldridge (3-3) was the tough-luck loser for the Paladins surrendering a pair of unearned runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings of work.
The final game of the three-game series is slated for 1:00 on Sunday.