May 4, 2008

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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman Paladins extended their school record Southern Conference winning streak to 13 games with an 11-9 victory over the Davidson Wildcats Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium.

The triumph completed Furman's series sweep of Davidson and marked the Paladins' fourth consecutive series sweep in league play. A ninth place preseason pick by SoCon head coaches, Furman (29-15, 15-6 SoCon), which entered Sunday's play in sole possession of first place, has won 17 of its last 21 games.

The loss was the seventh straight for Davidson (10-32, 2-19 SoCon), which is winless in 18 road games this year.

Furman's 11-run effort was powered by an 18-hit attack that saw every starter collect at least one base knock. Campbell Lewis and Marcus Rose led the way with a pair of 3-for-5 performances. Connor Lind, Jay Jackson, Reese Wade, and Matt Hemingway, meanwhile, each had two hits and two RBI while Brian Harrison registered a pair of hits and drove in a run. Wade's 2-for-4 performance raised his team leading batting average to .464. The freshman designated hitter from Dallas, Texas, entered the week sporting the nation's highest batting average.

Davidson was paced by Matt Webb, Danny Weiss, and Chris Fitzpatrick with three hits apiece.

Kevin Gaid (2-1) earned the win after working three designated innings before departing with a 6-1 lead. After skipping a start a week ago against Western Carolina due to a tender elbow, the sophomore right-hander allowed two hits and a run while notching three strikeouts.

Nick Karow earned his eighth save after coming on to get the final out in the eighth with two runners on base and later surviving a three-run ninth.

The loss went to Davidson starter Matt West (1-2), who surrendered four runs on five hits in an inning of work.

Furman provided Gaid with early support on the strength of a three-run first inning highlighted by a Marcus Rose solo home run to left field on the first pitch he faced.

After Davidson got on the board in the second to make it 3-1, the Paladins answered with a run in the bottom of the frame and two more in the third on an RBI double by Lewis and Hemingway sacrifice fly that scored Harrison to stretch Furman's advantage to 6-1.

The Wildcats cut Furman's lead to 6-3 with two runs in the fourth, but the Paladins opened up the contest with a four-run fifth that featured Jackson's two-run single to right center field off Davidson reliever Matt Sliwiak.

Furman led 11-6 heading to the ninth before Webb's solo home run to left center made it 11-7. A single by Weiss and RBI double by Sam Payne cut it to 11-8. Chris Fitzpatrick's' two-out double down the right field line scored Payne to make it 11-9, but Karow recovered by striking out Hugh Eden looking to end the game.

Furman returns to action on Tuesday when it entertains Charleston Southern in a 6:00 p.m. game at Latham Stadium.