BETSILL THREE-RUN HOME RUN
PACES FURMAN TO 12-3 TRIUMPH OVER ELON
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Matthew Betstill doubled twice and belted a three-run home run to power Furman to a 12-3 win over Elon in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday evening at Furman Baseball Stadium.
Betstill, a sophomore from Griffin, Ga., doubled in a four-run first inning and later in the third before cracking his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to right center field to spark a six-run sixth inning. A. J. Davidiuk also contributed three hits for the Paladins, who touched up Elon pitching for 12 hits, including six extra base knocks.
The victory marked the third straight for Furman (10-15, 4-4 SoCon) and the Paladins’ second consecutive triumph over Elon (14-17, 8-6 SoCon).
David Mitchell (2-3) earned the victory for the Paladins after surrendering two runs, four hits, and three walks in five innings of work.
Elon starter Brian Hensen (2-1) absorbed the loss after lasting only three innings and yielding five runs on seven hits.
Furman jumped on top early, getting to Hensen for four hits and four runs in the first inning. Andrew Greene walked to lead off and scored on Nick Wajda’s triple to right field. Wajda then came home on a ground out by Derek Norman. With two outs, Betsill doubled and came home on a Case Cassedy triple. Cassedy finished off the rally by scoring on a single by Davidiuk.
Elon made it a 4-2 game in the third on Matt Stocco’s two-run home run off to left field off Mitchell.
Furman answered in the bottom of the inning on Dominic Franchini’s fourth home run of the year, a solo shot to center field that stretched the lead to 5-2.
The Paladins added another run in the fourth for a 6-2 advantage when Davidiuk stole home on Elon catcher Matt Stocco’s throw to first base to retire Andrew Greene, who had struck out swinging.
Furman took firm control of the contest with a six-run sixth, highlighted by an RBI double by Norman and Betstill’s three-run blast off Phoenix reliever Matt Weeks that increased the Paladin lead to 12-2.
Ryan Hodinka gave up only three hits in three scoreless innings of relief for the Paladins.
The two teams complete the three-game series on Sunday beginning at 1:00 p.m.