March 4, 2004
FURMAN DROPS TWO AT REBEL GAMES, BARR SWIPES SCHOOL STEALS MARK
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman scored at least one run in each of the first five innings to lead the Wildcats to an 8-4 win over Furman Thursday evening at the Osceola Softball Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
Shortstop Melanie Johnson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Rhoenita Yancey went 2-for-3 with two runs as Bethune-Cookman pounded out nine hits versus Lady Paladin pitching.
The Wildcats scored one in the first, two in the second and one in the third to build a 4-0 lead. Furman got on the board in the top of the fourth. JoDee Eichelberger opened the inning by reaching on an error by Wildcat pitcher Lauren McCoy. Megan Jaudon followed with a double to give Furman runners at second and third with nobody out.
Karen Myers followed Jaudon with a triple to left trimming the lead to 4-2. Jessica Matthews kept the rally alive with an RBI infield single that plated Myers.
The Wildcats answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to end any chance of a come-from-behind win for the Lady Paladins.
McCoy pitched a complete game and struck out eight Lady Paladins to earn the win.
Kristy Goodrich, 1-6 on the season, suffered the loss for Furman. Goodrich was roughed up for three runs on three hits in just two innings of work.
Jaudon and Matthews each collected two hits for the Lady Paladins, while Myers was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
In the day's first game, UCF's Jennifer Whitley drove home Stephanie Best with a two-out triple in the top of the fifth to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead on their way to a 5-1 victory over Furman.
After UCF took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Furman tied the game on an RBI bunt single by Kristin White.
Best reached base on a single and advanced to second on a groundout before scoring the game-winning run on Whitley;s triple down the right field line.
Pitcher Taylor Sawyer allowed just one run while throwing a complete game to garner the win.
Rachel Henley (0-6) took the loss for Furman after giving up two earned runs in six innings in the circle.
Leftfielder Joni Lockridge paced Furman at the plate going 2-for-2 while scoring Furman's only run.
LaKerah Barr's stolen base in the bottom of the first inning, her eleventh this season, set a new Furman career record for stolen bases. The theft gave Barr 61 for her career moving her by Tonya Olson's 60 career steals.
Furman, 1-17 on the season, will look to snap a 13-game losing streak when it returns to action for the final day of the Rebel Games Friday. The Lady Paladins face Detroit at 2:20 p.m. before battling Florida A&M at 6:00 p.m.