GEORGIA SOUTHERN BLASTS PAST FURMAN 10-4
CHARLESTON, S.C. Georgia Southern used a four-run eighth inning to defeat Furman 10-4 in Saturday afternoonıs elimination game at the 2002 Wendyıs/Pepsi Southern Conference Tournament in Joseph P. Riley Park.
With the two teams tied at 4-4 entering the eighth, Brendan Gilligan singled off Paladin reliever Patrick Griffin (2-2) and moved to second on a pinch hit single by Brandon Burnsed. Carlos Loveıs sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position prior to a Rocky Baker walk that loaded the bases. J.R. Revere hit a sacrifice fly to plate Gilligan for the go-ahead run while Burnsed scored on a throwing error by Furman first baseman Dominic Frankey. Chad Hall followed with a triple to right to plate Baker and scored as Chris Walker reached on a bunt single.
Georgia Southern (36-23) opened the scoring in the first inning as it claimed a 1-0 lead. Hall opened the game with a hit to right and moved to second on Walkerıs sacrifice bunt. After a walk and a strikeout, Gilligan hit a RBI flare to left, scoring Hall.
Furman (26-34) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage. Clint Hill opened the Paladin half of the inning with a double down the leftfield line and scored on Craig Caudillıs single to center. Coogie Freedman gave Furman the lead as he sent a 1-1 pitch from Eagle starter Brian Rogers over the rightfield fence for his first career home run.
The Paladins added to their lead in the bottom of the second. Ryan Presnell singled to open the frame and stole second before taking third on Danny Rueckelıs groundout. Cole Hubka drove in Presnell with a single to center and scored on Hillıs triple to left to give Furman a 4-1 advantage.
The Eagles plated three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. Walker led off with a double down the rightfield line before Jemel Spearman walked. Matt Herring singled to plate Walker and moved into scoring position as Hubka misplayed the ball in centerfield. Gilligan drove in Spearman with a groundout prior to Matt Hammondıs sacrifice fly scored Herring.
GSU plated its final two runs in the ninth, on a Herring sacrifice fly and a Love fielderıs choice. Brian Harrison, making his first appearance since April 3 due to a stress fracture in his right arm, picked up his first career win, improving to 1-2.
Rogers surrendered nine hits and four runs while striking out six in six innings of work while Furman starter Tom Mastny also allowed four runs on seven hits in five and a third innings.
With the loss, the Paladins close out the 2002 season.