FURMAN TOPS DAVIDSON 4-3 AFTER NINTH INNING RALLY
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Down 3-2 heading into the top of the ninth, the visiting Furman Paladins grinded out two runs on four hits to upend Davidson, 4-3, Friday night at Wildcat Park.
The victory keeps Furman (23-19, 13-12 SoCon) above the .500 level in conference play while Davidson's (15-23, 9-15) home winning streak is snapped at four.
After Wildcat closer Brian Akin got the lead-off man to ground out in the ninth, the junior ran into some trouble. Furman first baseman Dominic Frankey got things rolling by nailing an 0-2 pitch just out of the reach of left fielder Brett Peiffer for a double. Sam McLain followed up with a run-producing single to left field to knot the contest at 3-3.
Matthew Betsill continued the Furman attack with a single through the left side to put runners on first and second. Akin recovered to get the second out as pinch hitter Case Cassedy flew out to center. However, Craig Caudill came through with his only hit of the night, a line drive single to center, to knock in the go-ahead run.
Furman closer David Mitchell recorded a perfect bottom frame to tally his fourth save of the year.
Both teams scored a two-out run in the first inning before the starting pitchers settled down. Frankey hit an RBI single in the top half to give the Paladins an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Michael Muniz laced a 3-2 pitch into the right field corner to plate fellow sophomore Justin Hartanov in the bottom half of the opening inning.
A wild pitch helped Furman take the lead in the fourth. McLain singled with one out before advancing all the way to third on a wild pitch by Wildcat hurler Andy Carter. In the same at-bat, Betsill's grounder to short was able to score McLain.
Davidson regrouped and put up a run each in the fifth and sixth innings to leapfrog ahead, 3-2. Freshman catcher Dan Obermeier connected on his first career home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth to tie the contest at 2-2. The Wildcats then capitalized on two Paladin errors in the sixth to score their third run.
Both starting hurlers pitched an effective eight innings. Furman's Jon Stallsmith (3-4) gave up six hits and two earned runs to pick up his third victory of the year. Meanwhile, Carter struck out nine while only giving up three hits and one earned run for the 'Cats.
The start of the game was delayed for over 90 minutes due to a thunderstorm rolling through the Davidson area.
The two teams continue their three-game set tomorrow, May 3, at Wildcat Park with the first pitch slated for 2 p.m.