April 17, 2008
Box Score
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Danny Baatz homered twice and drove in four runs to power UNC-Asheville to a 13-9 comeback win over Furman in baseball action Wednesday night at Furman Stadium.
After the Bulldogs fell behind 8-1 after two innings, Baatz sparked UNCA's comeback with a two-run home run in the third inning and later tied the game at 8-8 with a two-run blast in a four-run sixth. UNC Asheville took an 11-8 lead an inning later, scoring three runs, higlighted by Justin Schumer's two-run triple to center field, and extended its lead to 13-8 in the ninth on Elliott Arrington's two-run clout to left center field.
Jay Jackson led off the Furman ninth with a solo home run, but after three walks loaded the bases and brought the potential tying run to the plate, Schumer moved from second base to the mound and retired the final two Paladin hitters to preserve the win and earn his seventh save of the season.
The victory went to Chris Brookey (3-0), who worked the longest of nine Bulldog pitchers, tossing three innings of shutout relief and striking out five.
Mason Smith (3-3) absorbed the loss for Furman after working 1 1/3 innings and yielding three unearned runs and a pair of hits. He walked one and fanned two.
UNC-Asheville pounded Furman pitchers for 18 hits, including four that left the park. Arrington and and Schumer both went 4-for-6 at the plate and drove in three runs each. Reed Kreiser turned in a 3-for-5 performance that included a solo home run. He also scored three times and drove in a pair.
Ryan Lee's second inning grand slam highlighted a six-run second inning and gave the Paladins an 8-1 lead, but from that point Furman's offense sputtered as the Paladins were held scoreless and managed only six singles until Jackson's solo home run to center field in the ninth.
Marcus Rose led Furman at the plate, going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs. Matt Hemingway also had a pair of hits for the Paladins.
Furman returns to action on Friday when it opens a three-game Southern Conference series against Wofford. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
