May 6, 2003
FURMAN SOFTBALL SET FOR 2003 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Head coach Bonnie Flynn and the Furman Lady Paladin softball team travel to Chattanooga this week for the 2003 Southern Conference Softball Tournament May 8-10.
The Lady Paladins, 20-30 overall and 8-13 in the Southern Conference this season, enter the tournament as the sixth seed. Furman opens tournament play against third seed and tournament host Chattanooga on Thursday at Frost Stadium. The first pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
Furman enters the tournament in search of its fourth straight trip to the championship game. The Lady Paladins fought their way through the loser's bracket in 2002 to earn a berth in the finals against Chattanooga. The Lady Mocs prevailed in the title game 9-1.
Furman enters the tournament with two of the SoCon's top hitters in LaKerah Barr and Meagen Johnson.
Barr, a junior centerfielder, led all Southern Conference batters with a .404 average, while ranking third in the league in hits (63) and seventh in stolen bases (16). Barr, who ranks second on Furman's all-time stolen base ledger (50-59), is hitting .453 with six doubles over the last 25 games.
Sophomore Meagen Johnson has made her mark this year at first base and in the circle. Johnson currently ranks third in the SoCon with a .377 batting average and has posted team-highs this season in doubles (11), homers (4), RBI (20) and slugging percentage (.585). The righthander was the only SoCon player to earn both the league pitcher and player of the week awards this season. She finished the regular season with a 10-13 record and team-leading 2.49 ERA.
The winner/loser of the Furman vs. Chattanooga game will face the winner/loser of #2 UNC Greensboro vs. #7 UNC WIlmington in the second round of the tournament.