Furman will look to build off a solid start to the 2017 season when the Paladins host Monmouth for a three-game series this weekend at Latham Stadium.
Furman (3-1) is coming off a season-opening series win and a shutout of Presbyterian on Tuesday. Monmouth (0-3) opened the season by getting swept at Florida Atlantic.
The Hawks are coming off a 30-27 season in 2016, including a 16-8 mark and third-place showing in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Friday's series opener, which is set for a 4 p.m. start, is scheduled to feature a pair of reigning conference pitchers of the year in Furman's Will Gaddis (1-0, 1.50 ERA) and Monmouth's Ricky Dennis. Dennis, a 6-foot-8 senior, was 9-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 2016.
The Hawks return their best three hitters this season in seniors Grant Lamberton, Dan Shea and Shaine Hughes. Lamberton hit .341 and scored a team-high 50 runs, while Shea hit .312 with a team-highs in home runs (8), RBIs (53) and stolen bases (8). Hughes hit a team-best .385 with 15 doubles and 34 RBIs.
Monmouth freshman Danny Long earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors after coming up a single shy of hitting for the cycle in Sunday's series finale at FAU.
The Paladins will look to stay hot offensively after scoring 35 runs over the first four games. Brandon Elmy (.471/2/5), Carter Grote (.462/0/3) and Sky Overton (.357/1/4) have led the way offensively for Furman.
Friday will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.
Grant Schuermann and Matthew Quarles are scheduled to start Saturday and Sunday, respectively, for Furman. Those games are each scheduled for 1 p.m.
Injury report: After spraining an ankle last Saturday, Furman starting shortstop Bret Huebner is expected to miss at least two more weeks.
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