STOVALL SHUTS DOWN THE CITADEL 6-0
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Pitcher Jeff Stovall threw a complete game shutout and picked up his seventh win of the season to lead Furman (25-33) to a 6-0 win over top-seeded The Citadel (31-26) in game ten of the 2002 Wendy’s/Pepsi Southern Conference Tournament at Joseph P. Riley Park on Friday.
The Paladins jumped out to the early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Derek Norman recorded a single to left field to score Clint Hill for the first run of the inning. Coogie Freedman brought in the final three runs of the frame off a double to left field, scoring Ryan Presnell, Dominic Frankey and Derek Norman. Furman added two more runs to clinch the 6-0 win.
Freedman added his fourth RBI with a single to left field, scoring Frankey in the seventh inning. Drew Latora drove a single through the left field side, scoring Hill for the final run of the game. Freedman led the Paladins, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a double.
Stovall’s (7-2) complete-game shutout is his second against The Citadel this season and he has thrown 16 scoreless innings against the Bulldogs. Pitcher Raymond Jenkins (5-4) took the loss for The Citadel. Jon Aughey was 2-for-4 and Chip Cannon added a double.
With The Citadel and Western Carolina both eliminated today, the 2002 championship will mark the first time since 1994 that one of the top two seeds will not be playing for the championship. The Citadel won the title in 1994 as the fifth seed. It is also the first time in tournament history that the top two seeds have been eliminated early in the tournament.
Furman will take on UNC Greensboro in Game 12 at 7:30 Friday night. The winner will face the loser of the Georgia Southern/College of Charleston game on Saturday at Noon.