Paladins suffers sour end to SoCon regular season

Baseball seasons are filled with ups and downs. For Furman this year, it's been a gigantic roller coaster. Sunday's Southern Conference regular season finale symbolized that perfectly.
When Furman put seven runs up in the first inning Sunday against VMI, it appeared the Paladins were on their way to their fourth sweep in the past five SoCon series. A win Sunday would've made Furman 17-3 in its last 20 games following a 3-17 showing in the previous 20 games.
But it was not to be.
While two VMI relievers shut out the Paladins over the final 12 2/3 innings, the Keydets chipped away and pulled out a stunning 9-7 win in 13 innings.
Carter Grote began Furman's big opening inning with a one-out double. After each of his teammates that followed all reached, Grote made the second out of the inning on a sacrifice fly to make it 7-0. Brandon Elmy belted a three-run home run for his team-leading 11th round tripper this season. Cameron Whitehead had an RBI-single and Bret Huebner hit a two-run double also in the first.
But that was it for Furman's offensive day. VMI's Matthew Eagle allowed five hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings, before Ryan Bennett (5-0) gave up three hits in seven scoreless innings to earn the win.
Furman senior Matthew Quarles looked to close out his home career with a win, but pitched in and out of trouble over his five innings of work. Despite allowing eight hits and four walks, Quarles limited the Keydets to three runs and left with a 7-3 lead after five innings.
Tyler Kimbrell, who had allowed just one earned run over his last 11 innings since March 8, came on in relief and worked an easy 1-2-3 sixth inning. It was a different story in the seventh though as VMI rallied for four runs. Jake Huggins capped it with a game-tying three-run homer.
Despite blowing the big lead, it appeared that Furman was still destined to win. That was especially the case when VMI left two runners on the ninth, then left the bases loaded in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings without scoring. The Keydets (21-29, 7-14), who had 19 hits, drew 11 walks and stranded 21 baserunners, finally broke through again with two runs in the 13th thanks in part to Furman's first two errors of the game.
The Paladins could not take advantage of its chances as VMI committed all four of its errors over the final four innings. A pair of errors and a walk loaded the bases for Furman in the bottom of the 13th, but Bennett got Sims Griffith to bounce into a double play to end the game.
The sour taste from Sunday's loss shouldn't spoil the remarkable turnaround the Paladins made in SoCon play. After a 1-8 start in the conference, Furman finished at 14-10. The Paladins (27-24) are currently in fourth place in the SoCon, but can finish anywhere from second to fourth. While Furman has completed conference play, every other SoCon team has one league series left.
The Paladins return to action Tuesday at Georgia at 6 p.m.

Paladins stay perfect in doubleheaders

Grant Schuermann and Will Gaddis combined to toss 15 shutout innings Saturday to help keep Furman perfect in doubleheaders this season. The Paladins defeated VMI 4-1 and 8-2 to improve to 6-0 in twin bills.
Furman improved to 27-23 overall and moved to third place in the Southern Conference standings at 14-9. It's the fifth consecutive Southern Conference series win for Furman, who will go for its fourth sweep in those five series Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
Game 1 - Furman 4, VMI 1
Schuermann posted his third consecutive outstanding start to lead Furman to a win in the opener Saturday. Schuermann (6-4) allowed three hits and no walks in seven scoreless innings and tallied a season-high eight strikeouts.
Over his last three starts, Schuermann has allowed three earned runs over 23 innings. Schuermann has 31 strikeouts and no walks over his last five starts (35 2/3 innings).
VMI ace Josh Widner, who entered Saturday with 100 strikeouts and 16 walks in 89 innings this season, matched Schuermann for the first six innings.
Furman finally broke through when Landon Kay blasted a two-run home run in the seventh. It's the 10th homer of the season for Kay and sixth in his last eight games. The Paladins added two more runs in the seventh on an RBI-double by Bret Huebner and an RBI-single by Jabari Richards.
Josh Hollifield had all of the Keydets' offense with his first collegiate homer in the eighth.
Game 2 - Furman 8, VMI 2
Gaddis cruised through eight scoreless innings to record his fifth consecutive win and lower his SoCon-best ERA to 1.92, capping the doubleheader sweep in a game that took 2:05. Gaddis (7-3) allowed four hits - all singles, one walk and struck out six.
The Paladins took a 3-0 lead in the third after four consecutive two-out hits. Cam Whitehead started the scoring with a home run. After a Bret Huebner singled, Jake Crawford doubled him home. Jabari Richards' single scored Crawford.
After Kay led off the sixth with a double, Whitehead homered again to push Furman's lead to 5-0. That pulled Whitehead into a tie with Kay and Brandon Elmy for the team lead in homers (10).
Crawford capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the eighth.
Kay went 3-for-4 to lead a Furman offense that piled up 14 hits.
In the ninth, Matt Pita tripled and Tyler Tharp followed with his 16th home run to account for the scoring for VMI (20-29, 6-14).
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Paladins continue to help fight pediatric cancer

Furman players get their heads shaved Tuesday night at Fluor Field.

As sports fans, it's easy to become completely wrapped up in the wins and losses on the field. Each year, the Furman baseball team participates in an event that helps remind us that there are much more important things in life.
That was exemplified once again Tuesday night when the tradition continued at Fluor Field. While they had just wrapped up a tough loss to Clemson, the Paladins' tensions mellowed as they gathered atop their dugout. As players and coaches sat back in barber chairs, smiles, chatter and laughter began as family and friends watched the team go through its annual head shaving.
As has been the case for the past several seasons, this was all in support of a great cause. Furman is among many college baseball teams all over the country that have raised thousands of dollars over the years for the Vs. Cancer Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping fight childhood cancer.
The Paladins have ranked among the top fundraising teams over the years and this season is no different. As of Wednesday, Furman efforts totaled $14,291, surpassing the original goal of $10,000.
Stylists from Great Clips and SportsClips were on hand to do the shaving Tuesday night.
Half of all proceeds raised from Vs. Cancer head-shaving events goes to a local childhood cancer hospital. The other half funds research at the national level.
While the Paladins' early summer haircuts are done, their fund-raising efforts continue. Donations can be made online here: Furman's Vs. Cancer fundraising page.

Furman falls to Clemson at Fluor Field

Furman hosts Clemson at Fluor Field Tuesday night.

As the calendar inches closer to the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament, Furman's search for a fourth starter continued Tuesday night at the home of the tournament. Seventh-ranked Clemson jumped on top early and went on to a 10-5 win at Fluor Field.

The final tally saddled Furman (25-23) with back-to-back losses for the first time since April 11. While the Paladins have still won 14 of their last 17 games, it's the third midweek game in a row that Furman's starter has been hit hard early.

Clemson (37-12) took the lead right off the bat Tuesday as Logan Davidson belted a leadoff homer. While the Tigers didn't hit another longball the rest of the night, they piled up a total of 15 hits and held a 9-2 lead by the fifth inning.

Clemson led 10-2 in the sixth when Furman rallied a bit. Brandon Elmy led off the bottom of the inning with his team-high 10th home run. Landon Kay singled and Cameron Whitehead doubled before an error allowed two runs to score cutting the lead in half. With two on and one out, Clemson reliever Owen Griffith came on and got Jabari Richards to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Griffith and Jeremy Beasley shut out Furman the rest of the way, preserving the win for Clemson starter Tyler Jackson (8-1). Jackson allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Furman starter Jake Crawford (1-4) gave up three runs in his only inning of work to take the loss.

Elmy and Landon Kay, who hit his ninth homer, led the Paladins with two hits apiece.

Furman returns to action this weekend, wrapping up the SoCon - and home - portion of its schedule with a series against VMI. Game one Friday is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

The Paladins enter the series in fourth place in the SoCon with a record of 12-9. Western Carolina (13-8) and UNC Greensboro (11-7) sit slightly ahead of Furman, while Wofford (10-8) is just behind in the standings. The Paladins are trying to finish above third in the SoCon for the first time since winning the league championship in 1976.

Samford ends Furman's 11-game SoCon winning streak

All it took to end Furman's 11-game Southern Conference winning streak was the league's top closer working twice as long as he had all year Sunday. Samford standout reliever Wyatt Burns tossed six scoreless innings as the Bulldogs rallied for a 4-3 win.
Samford's win denied the Paladins' bid for a fourth consecutive SoCon series sweep.
Things looked good early on for Furman (25-22, 12-9) as Jake Crawford hit a two-out, RBI-single in the second. With two out in the third, Brandon Elmy hit an RBI-double and Landon Kay followed with an RBI-single to stake the Paladins to a 3-0 lead.
When the Paladins came to bat in the fourth they were greeted by Burns, who leads the SoCon in saves with 12. Burns allowed a pair of one-out singles, but got out of the jam and Samford rallied in the bottom of the inning.
With one out in the fourth, Austin Edens hit his ninth home run. After a single and a walk, Ayrton Schafer belted his eighth homer to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
Burns made the lead hold up, allowing only two more hits the rest of the way. One of those was a double by Jabari Richards in the ninth. Sky Overton was hit by a pitch with two out, putting two men on for Brandon Elmy. Elmy hit a rocket right at Samford third baseman Taylor Garris who made the catch to end the game.
Burns (4-0), who's longest outing this year prior to Sunday was three innings, had no walks and two strikeouts. Burns, who threw 63 of his 80 pitches for strikes, has won or saved 59.3 percent of the wins for Samford (27-21, 8-10) this season.
Troy Dixon went 3-for-3 to lead the Bulldogs.
Matthew Quarles (6-3) allowed four runs on six his in 6 1/3 innings for Furman. Richards went 3-for-5 for Furman, which stranded 10 baserunners and failed to take advantage of three Samford errors.
The Paladins return to action Tuesday when they take on Clemson at Fluor Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Schuermann, Gaddis toss complete games in Furman's doubleheader sweep

After a historic night of offense in its previous game Wednesday, Furman followed with possibly a historic pitching performance on Saturday at Samford. Grant Schuermann and Will Gaddis each threw completes games as the Paladins swept a doubleheader. It's believed to be the first time in school history that two pitchers each completed nine-inning games in a doubleheader.
Schuermann needed just 92 pitches to win game one 3-2, while Gaddis needed just 96 for a 4-1 win in game two. Of the 188 combined pitches, 135 went for strikes. That's an average of less than three balls (2.94) thrown per inning.
It's the 11th consecutive Southern Conference win for Furman, who's won 14 of its last 15 games.
Game 1 - Furman 3, Samford 2
Catcher Cameron Whitehead provided all the offensive support Schuermann needed in the opening game, which lasted just 1:50. In the top of the fifth, Sims Griffith led off with a single and Whitehead followed with a home run to give the Paladins a 2-0 lead.
Schuermann who retired the first 10 Samford batters, gave up his first run in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI-single by Samford's Anthony Mulrine.
Whitehead pushed the lead back to two his next time up when he slugged his eighth homer in the seventh. Samford answered in the bottom of the inning when Austin Edens led off with his eight homer.
Unfazed, Schuermann faced the minimum of batters the rest of the way. He allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Schuermann (5-4) induced 16 groundball outs.
Game 2 - Furman 4, Samford 1
Both teams played five scoreless innings before Carter Grote stroked a 1-2 pitch over the left-centerfield fence for his seventh home run in the sixth. Sky Overton followed with a single and steal before Brandon Elmy singled. Landon Kay's groundout scored Overton to make it 2-0.
Samford cut the lead in half when Troy Dixon homered on Gaddis' first pitch of the sixth.
Furman provided some breathing room for Gaddis in the next inning on an RBI-single by Grote and an RBI-double by Overton.
Gaddis retired the final 10 Samford batters in order for his fourth career complete game. Gaddis (6-3) allowed one run on four hits and one walk. He struck out six.
Grote went 3-for-5 to lead Furman (25-21, 12-8).
Branden Fryman, son of former Cleveland Indians' All-Star Travis Fryman, went 2-for-4 to account for half the hits for Samford (26-21, 7-10).
The Paladins go for their fourth straight SoCon series sweep Sunday at 2 p.m.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Paladins rout Gardner-Webb in record fashion

What a difference a week makes.
Facing the same Gardner-Webb team and starting pitcher Furman was blanked by seven days earlier, the Paladins avenged that 5-0 loss in historic fashion Wednesday. The friendly confines of Latham Stadium served as a launching pad as Furman shattered records in a 27-10 win.
One batter into the bottom of the fourth inning, every Furman starter already had a hit as the Paladins won for the 12th time in their last 13 games. Furman (23-21), which earlier this season went 33 innings without scoring a run, has scored 56 runs over its last 17 innings of batting.
Three school records were set Wednesday:

• Furman's 28 hits broke a record that had stood for more than a century. The Paladins had 27 hits in a 22-7 win over Presbyterian in 1915.
• The Paladins belted seven home runs topping the previous record of six set in a 13-9 win over Marshall 20 years ago.
• Furman's seventh home run of the night was hit by senior Carter Grote, who also broke the single-game record for hits with the round-tripper. Grote went 6-for-7 and posted career highs in RBIs (6) and runs (5).

The Paladins took a 3-0 lead after one inning before Gardner-Webb blasted three home runs in a six-run second inning. Furman responded with its version of home run derby in the bottom of the inning. After Sky Overton's three-run homer tied it, Brandon Elmy and Landon Kay made it back-to-back-to-back homers as the Paladins took an 8-6 lead.

That was just a sign of what was to come as Furman scored at least two runs in all but the fifth inning, when the Paladins were oddly enough retired in order on seven pitches. In the sixth, Elmy and Kay hit back-to-back homers again pushing the lead to 20-6. Over the last four games, Kay has hit a pair of homers in the same game twice.

Backup catcher John Michael Boswell belted his first career home run in the eighth, before Grote capped the offensive onslaught with a three-run homer.

Overton and Elmy each had five RBIs, while Jabari Richards, Overton, Elmy and Jake Crawford each scored four runs. Kay and Crawford added four hits apiece.

After Gardner-Webb's six-run second, Furman relievers Billy Greenfield (2-1), Heath Hawkins and Nolan Mullen shut out the Bulldogs (22-22) over the next 5 1/3 innings.

The 28-hit effort helped push Furman's team batting average to .314, which was tied for 12th-highest in Division I through Wednesday. The Paladins' .486 slugging percentage ranked 11th nationally.

Next up, Furman will carry its nine-game winning streak in Southern Conference play to Samford for a weekend series. Game one is scheduled to begin Friday at 7 p.m.