FURMAN SPLITS TWINBILL WITH HIGH POINT IN SEASON OPENER
Greenville, S.C. Furman opened the 2002 baseball season Saturday with a twinbill spilt with High Point, posting a 4-2 win in the first game before falling 5-4 in game two.
In the first game, junior right-hander Tom Mastny (1-0) scattered eight hits and two runs over five innings to pace Furman to the win. Relievers Jeff Stovall and Rob Purvis combined to pitch the final four innings, with Purvis picking up the save. Offensively, the Paladins were lead by Craig Caudill, who went 3-for-4 with one RBI off High Point starter Riley Gostisha (0-1).
In game two, Furman jumped out to a 3-1 lead after base knocks by Clint Hill and Nick Wajda scored Brandon Barrett and Ryan Presnell. High Point came roaring back to take the lead in the top of the seventh scoring three runs off Furman reliever Rob Purvis. Furmanšs shortstop Derek Norman came through with a base hit in the bottom of the seventh to score Clint Hill to force extra innings.
After a lead-off walk to Ryan Thiede in the top of eighth by reliever Mike Dugan (0-1), Sam Perry gave up a base hit to John Canvanaugh allowing Kemp Smith, Thiedešs pinch runner, to score the winning run
For High Point, Chris Chanlder (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Clayton Gordner.
Furman and High Point complete the three game weekend series on Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. game.