FURMAN SLIPS BY BALL STATE 4-3
Conway, S.C.- Derek Norman went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored to help
lead Furman past Ball State 4-3 on the first day of action of The Country Inn
and Suites Shootout in Conway, S.C.
With the win the Paladins improve to 3-7 on the year, while the Cardinals fall
to 2-2.
Ball State jumped on Furman starter David Mitchell (1-1) in the first inning
as Mike Sullivan led off with a double. Mitchell then walked Marc Franz and
Kyle Dygert to load the bases. Next Lucas Fry drew the third walk of the inning,
which allowed Sullivan to score, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. However, Mitchell
settled down, forcing Daniel Holeman into a fielder’s choice to end the
inning.
The Cardinals' starting pitcher Michael Johnston (1-1) limited the Paladins
to two hits over the first four innings, but Furman was finally able to tie
the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning after Steven Hildreth grounded into a double
play, which allowed Nick Mershon to score.
Ball State reclaimed the lead though in the sixth inning, when Kenny Bargfeldt
singled in Holeman to make it 2-1.
The Paladins would not allow Ball State to have the lead for long as Furman
exploded for three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Derek
Norman began the scoring as his triple to center field drove in Andrew Greene
to tie the game at 2-2. Mershon followed with a single through the right side,
knocking in Norman to give the Paladins their first lead of the day. Matthew
Bestill concluded the rally for Furman as his single scored Dominic Franchini
to push the Paladins’ lead to 4-2.
Ball State would add its final run in the top of the ninth on a two-out RBI
single from Franz off Furman closer Calvin Hurst. However, Franz was caught
in a run down on the play to record the final out of the game, allowing Hurst
to pick up his third save of the year.
Besides Norman, Mershon and Franchini both recorded two hits on the day. Bargfeldt
led the Cardinals with two hits and a RBI.
The Paladins return to action tomorrow when they face William and Mary at 10:00 a.m. in Conway, S.C.