FURMAN BASEBALL OFF TO BEST START SINCE 1974 AFTER 10-6 WIN OVER OHIO
Greenville, S.C.--Kyle Funk allowed six hits and one run over six innings of work and Paladin reliever Ryan Hodinka held off the Bobcats' rally as Furman defeated Ohio 10-6 Friday afternoon at Furman Baseball Stadium. With the victory, the Paladins improve to 7-1 on the year, the best start of any Furman baseball team since 1974.
Furman jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first as Derek Norman drove in Clint Hill, giving the Paladins a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Furman increased its lead to 3-0 after Craig Caudill doubled off Ohio starter Marc Cornell (0-2), driving in Nick Wajda and Matthew Betsill. The Paladins later added another run in the third inning when Betsill singled up the middle to drive in Dominic Frankey, giving Furman a 4-0 lead.
The Paladins extended their lead in the fifth inning, scoring three runs off two hits and two walks. Betsill gave Furman its first run of the inning, scoring on a wild pitch. A.J. Davidiuk followed with a double to right field, driving in Wajda, and Clint Hill later singled to score Davidiuk, giving Furman a 7-0 lead.
Ohio scored its first run of the game after Clay Desantis singled off Funk (2-0), plating Brandon Wheeler to make the score 7-1.
The Bobcats cut into the Paladins' lead in the eighth inning as they scored five runs off two hits, two errors and four walks. Adam Fox and Rob Shrawder both led off the inning with walks. Desantis then reached base on an error by the pitcher, which scored Fox. Omari Briscoe later reached on another base error, allowing Shrawder and Desantis to score and cutting the Paladins' lead to 7-4. Tony Gandee followed with a double, plating Briscoe to slice Furman's lead to 7-5. Next Brian White walked, driving in Matt Geiger to make the score 7-6, but Hodinka then got pinch hitter Anthony Gressick to strike out, putting an end to the Ohio rally.
Furman responded in the bottom half of the inning as Frankey plated Andrew Greene on a ground-out, pushing the Paladins¹ lead to 8-6. Cole Hubka then doubled to right field, scoring Norman and Brad Cooper to give Furman a 10-6 lead.
Hodinka picked up his first career save as he shut-down the Bobcats in the ninth to give Furman the victory.
Norman led the Paladins at the plate, going 2-for-5 with one RBI and a run scored. Gandee paced the Bobcats going 3-for-4 with one RBI.
The two teams continue the three-game series on Saturday at Furman Baseball Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.