SIX-RUN EIGHTH LIFTS FURMAN PAST CLEMSON 10-8
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Craig Caudill keyed a six-run eighth inning with a two-out three-run double to spark Furman to 10-8 win over nationally 14th-ranked Clemson in front of 1,356 fans at Furman Stadium Thursday evening.
The victory, Furman’s first over Clemson (33-16) since 1984 and fourth triumph over a Top 25 team this season, snapped the Paladins’ 30-game losing streak to the Tigers in a series that dates back to 1896. The win also gave Furman (25-21) its first victories over South Carolina and Clemson since 1984. The Paladins knocked off South Carolina 7-5 on March 26.
“This was a big win for us, especially in the manner in which we won it,” said Furman head coach Ron Smith. “To be down four runs in the eighth and come back and win it against a fine Clemson team is a real tribute to our players and their determination. We put it together when it counted.”
Trailing 8-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Paladins used four hits and three Clemson errors for its decisive six-run frame, five of which came after two outs.
Pinch-hitter Drew Latora singled to open the inning and advanced to second when Matthew Betsill was hit by Clemson reliever Robert Rohrbaugh. With one out Clemson’s Russell Triplett misplayed Andrew Greene grounder, allowing Latora to score, Betsill to reach third, and Greene to second. After A.J. Davidiuk struck out, Clint Hill was hit by Tiger reliever Jeff Hahn (3-6) to load the bases. Caudill followed with a double to right center that cleared the bases and tied the game at 8-8. Caudill, whoadvanced to third on the play when second baseman David Slevin’s throw home sailed over catcher Steve Pyzik, scored the go-ahead run when Derek Norman laced an Aaron Trolia pitch into left field. Dominic Frankey then plated Norman with a double into the right field gap to cap the six-run rally and a 10-8 lead.
Furman freshman David Mitchell retired the Tigers in order in the ninth to earn his fifth save and make a winner of Paladin reliever Ryan Hodinka (2-0), who pitched a scoreless eighth.
Caudill, a product of Greenville’s Wade Hampton High School, cracked three doubles to highlight his 3-for-5, three RBI performance in Furman’s 13-hit attack. Frankey also went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs.
Clemson was paced by Kyle Frank, who went 2-for-5 with a grand slam. Frank’s blast, his seventh clout of the season, came with one out in the fifth inning off Furman reliever Patrick Griffin and cleared the left field fence to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead.
After Frank’s blast, Furman answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run Frankey single to make it 5-4.
The Tigers, however, came back with three more runs in the sixth off Griffin to stretch their advantage to 8-4. With one out Steve Pyzik doubled to right center. After a ground out, Pyzik came home on a single by Russell Triplett. Michael Johnson followed with a sharp to single and advanced to third on a error by rightfielder Cole Hubka, which allowed Triplett to score from first. After Dan Washmuth replaced Griffin, Brad McCann greeted Washmuth with a single to left field to plate Johnson for the inning’s final run.
Clemson redshirt freshman Josh Cribb, making his first collegiate start, pitched six innings and surrendered nine hits and four earned runs.
Furman returns to action on Friday when the Paladins host ETSU in the first of a three-game Southern Conference series. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.