WESTERN CAROLINA COMPLETES SWEEP OF FURMAN WITH 8-6 WIN
Cullowhee, N.C. — Jared Greenwood, who had five RBI on the day, hit two-run home runs Sunday, both giving Western Carolina leads in the game. The first was a two-run homer in the fourth and the second being a game-winning, three-run home run in the eighth as the Catamounts completed a three-game sweep over Furman, 8-6, Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Western, who started league play 0-7, has won seven of its last eight Southern Conference games to improve to 7-8 in the conference, while getting to .500 for the season with a 17-17 overall mark. The Paladins fall to 10-20 overall and 4-8 in the SoCon.
Furman took its first lead of the series, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth for a 2-0 lead. Derek Norman had a leadoff single. He moved to third on a Dominic Franchini single to right and Franchini advanced to second on an attempted play at third. Matthew Betsill drove in Norman and moved Franchini to third with an RBI ground out to second. Case Cassedy followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Franchini.
Western answered in the bottom of the fourth with four runs on four hits, including two doubles and two home runs. Chris Davis had a one-out double and scored one pitch later on an RBI double to center by Denver Edick. WCU first baseman Greenwood cleared the bases with a two-run home run to left-center field for his 11th blast of the season. Two pitches later, Brian Sigmon hit a solo home run to left, his fifth homer of the season.
Furman regained the lead (6-4), scoring four runs in the top of the sixth. Craig Caudill had a leadoff single and Norman followed with a two-run home run, his third homer of the season. After consecutive walks to Franchini and Betsill, Cassedy put runners on second and third with a sacrifice bunt. A.J. Davidiuk followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Franchini on the play. Pinch hitter Nick Wajda came on and hit a slow roller to third, which went for an infield RBI single and scored Betsill.
In the bottom of the eighth, Western went back on top by a score of 8-6. Kilmer had a leadoff walk and moved to second on Davis single to left. Edick followed with a single up the middle, scoring Kilmer. For the second time in the game, Greenwood cleared the bases, this time his home run was a three-run blast to center.
Furman threatened in the ninth, putting runners on third and second with no outs. Sam McLain singled off WCU relief pitcher Dan Lindner’s leg and moved to third on a double by pinch hitter Matt Madison. Lindner then got a ground out, a strikeout and a ground out to end the game.
Lindner picked up his second save of the weekend and his third of the season. Fellow relief pitcher Jeremy Ellenburg (3-0) picked up the win. The sophomore from Forest City, N.C., pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing no baserunners with one strikeout.
In addition to Greenwood getting three hits, Edick went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Sigmon accounted for Western’s other run with his solo homer in the fourth.
For the Paladins, Norman led the way with two hits and two RBI. Ryan Hudson (1-2) suffered the loss in relief. In 2.0 innings, he allowed three hits and four runs with a walk.
Western Carolina will not play again until hitting the road for a three-game
series at Georgia Southern, starting Friday April 16 at 7 pm. Furman will host
UNC Asheville on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 pm.