May 2, 2008
Box Score
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Connor Lind's two-out bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Furman to a 3-2 win over Davidson Friday evening in the opener of a three-game Southern Conference baseball series at Furman Stadium.
Lind's sharp single to right field off Davidson reliever Mike Frongello plated Matt Hemingway to give Furman (27-15, 13-6 SoCon) its school record 11th consecutive SoCon triumph and move the Paladins into a first place tie in the league with the College of Charleston, which fell, 6-3, at UNC Greensboro Friday evening. A ninth place preseason pick by league head coaches, Furman last won a SoCon regular season baseball championship in 1976.
The loss was the sixth straight for Davidson (10-30, 2-17 SoCon).
In the decisive ninth, Campbell Lewis drew a one-out walk and Hemingway followed with a single to right field off Davidson's Ian Horkley to put runners on the corners. After Frongello replaced Horkley, Joey Rodgers worked a one-out walk to load the bases. With his infield playing in, Frongello then induced a force play grounder to retire Lewis at home plate, but Lind ended the contest with a 2-2 liner into right field to score Hemingway for the game winner.
Furman's run in the ninth made a winner of Nick Karow (4-0), who came on with two outs in the top of the frame to retire Chris Fitzpatrick on a close play at first base with the go-ahead run at third.
Furman starter Jay Jackson, the SoCon's winningest pitcher entering the contest, pitched solid ball, going 8 2/3 innings and allowing six hits, two runs, and four walks while striking out 10.
Davidson starter Thomas Middour also pitched well, yielding only two runs on six hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five.
Furman managed eight hits in the contest to Davidson's six. Lind and Hemingway had two hits each while Hugh Eden and Tommy Piacenza collected two hits apiece for the Wildcats. Reese Wade went 1-for-3 and drove home two of Furman's three runs.
The Wildcats broke on top in the third after Chase Fitzpatrick walked to lead off and moved to second on a groundout before coming around to score on Eden's two-out single to center field.
Furman knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a Wade sacrifice fly.
Davidson loaded the bases with on outs in the sixth and went up 2-1 on a Matt Webb sacrifice fly, but the Wildcats' bid for a bigger inning was cut short after Ronnie Shore was retired at third base while trying to advance on Webb's sacrifice fly. Jackson then struck out Weiss to end the threat.
Furman tied it in the bottom of the frame after Lind drew a leadoff walk and later scored on Wade's RBI single up the middle.
Saturday's 6:00 p.m. game between the Paladins and Wildcats will be prececed by ceremonies at 5:20 p.m. when Furman's baseball facility will be officially dedicated as Latham Stadium.
