Greenville, S.C.-- Yuki Naka went 1-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to pace Chukyo University past Furman 9-6 in an exhibition game Tuesday afternoon at Furman Baseball Stadium.
Chukyo started the scoring in the first inning, plating three runs off three
hits and one error. Naka drove in the first run as his single to left field
scored Shingo Takada, giving Chukyo a 1-0 lead.
Yuki Haraguchi followed with a double, which drove in Naka to make the score 2-0. Eisei Ito then reached on a fielding error, allowing Haraguchi to score to give Chuyky a 3-0 adavantage.
The scoring continued for the visiting Japanese team in the second inning as they tacked on two more runs on a Takeshi Okmura single and a Naka ground-out to stretch their lead to 5-0.
Furman responded in the bottom of the inning as Coogie Freedman blasted a home run to right field to make it 5-1. The Paladins then added two more in the third inning after Drew Latora singled up the middle, driving in Case Cassedy and Brandon Barrett to slice Chukyo's lead to 5-3.
The visitors, however, drove in a run in each of the next three frames to extend their lead to 8-3.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Furman again cut into Chukyo's lead when Barrett singled in Brad Cooper to make the score 8-4, but Okmura singled to left field in the seventh inning, plating Makoto Akasaka to put Chukyo back up by five runs.
The Paladins tried to rally in the eighth inning as Jon Stallsmith lead off the frame with a triple. Cooper then singled in Stallsmith to cut the lead to 9-5. Barrett followed with another single, which allowed Chris Pearce to score, making the score 9-6. Later Cassedy singled to load the bases, but reliever Takeshi Haseba got Latora and Beau Wells to strike-out, ending the inning.
Isao Aoki pitched four innings, allowing eight hits and three runs to earn the victory. Sam Perry gave up five runs (four earned runs) and four hits over two innings of work to take the loss
Barrett led the Paladins at the plate going 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.
Chukyo returns to action Wednesday when they face Wofford at 7:00 p.m. Furman travels to Columbia tomorrow to face the nationally-ranked Gamecocks in a 7:00 p.m. game.