Game 43: Furman 13, The Citadel 1, 7 inn.

One day after piling up 19 runs against its biggest rival, Furman's offensive onslaught continued Sunday at Latham Stadium. The Paladins completed a sweep of The Citadel with a 13-1 win in a game shortened to seven innings by the Southern Conference's mercy rule for the final game of series.
It's the third consecutive SoCon series sweep by Furman (22-21, 10-8), who've won 11 of its last 12 games. The Paladins are back above .500 for the first time since a series win against North Carolina A&T March 17-19.
After batting around in the sixth and eighth innings Saturday, Furman sent every member of the lineup to the plate again in the second inning Sunday. With one out, eight consecutive Paladins reached base via hit or walk.
Cameron Whitehead opened the scoring with a two-run homer, his sixth. Carter Grote had a two-run double and Brandon Elmy capped the inning with a two-run single staking Furman to a 6-0 lead.
Jonathan Sabo homered the third for the Bulldogs (12-29, 3-12) before the Paladins dropped another hammer in the bottom of the inning. Jabari Richards belted a three-run homer and Brandon Elmy added his team-leading seventh homer. Elmy's two-run shot pushed the lead to 11-1.
Furman closed out the scoring in the fifth on a Richards' solo homer, his fifth, and a sac fly by Elmy.
That was plenty enough support for senior right-hander Matthew Quarles, who won his third consecutive start. Quarles allowed one run on three hits in six innings, moving into fourth place in school history with his 21st win. Quarles (5-2) allowed four walks and struck out eight.
Sky Overton went 3-for-3 to lead Furman's 16-hit attack. Five other Paladins had two hits, including Elmy and Richards who finished with five and four RBIs, respectively.
Furman returns to action Wednesday at home against Gardner-Webb. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Furman posts most lopsided win over Citadel in 91 years

Furman held a 3-2 lead over rival The Citadel through five innings Saturday at Latham Stadium. By the end of the game, those first five innings felt like they were played days earlier. The Paladins batted around in the sixth and eighth innings to roll to a 19-2 win.
After being denied what would've been its longest winning streak since 1926 with a loss Wednesday, Furman's output Saturday provided a nod back to that season. It was the most lopsided victory against Citadel since a 30-7 win that gave the Paladins a 12-0 start to the 1926 season.
More important to the present day, it's the eighth consecutive Southern Conference win for Furman (21-21, 9-8) and 10th win in its last 11 games.
After an adventurous first inning featuring errors by both teams, Furman held a 2-1 lead. All three runs were unearned. Both starters settled in as each allowed one run apiece over the next four innings.
In the bottom of sixth, Furman began turning a tight game into a rout. Landon Kay kicked off things by hitting the first pitch over the fence in center for a home run. After a Sims Griffith single and Cameron Whitehead double, Bret Huebner hit a two-run single chasing Citadel starter Will Abbott. Three more runs scored in the inning as the Paladins sent 12 batters to the plate to take a 9-2 lead.
Furman added two runs in the seventh before capping things off with an eight-run eighth in which 13 Paladins batted. The inning included a two-run homer by Kay, a three-run triple by Jake Crawford and RBI-singles for pinch-hitters Trent Alley and Logan Taplett.
Kay finished with a career-high four hits, including his fifth and sixth homers, and four RBIs. Whitehead also had four hits, including his fifth homer, and finished a triple away from hitting for the cycle.
Not to be overshadowed in the offensive onslaught was another strong pitching outing by Furman ace Will Gaddis. Gaddis (5-3) allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits over seven innings. He had one walk and six strikeouts.
Bryce Leasure went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Bulldogs (12-28, 3-11).
Furman goes for its third consecutive SoCon sweep beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Game 41: Furman 4, The Citadel 2

Furman's Grant Schuermann pitched his best game of the season, outdueling dominant Citadel starter J.P. Sears Friday, as the Paladins rallied for a 4-2 win at Latham Stadium. After having its eight-game winning streak snapped Wednesday, Furman came back for its seventh straight Southern Conference win.
Sears entered the game with a SoCon-best 2.00 ERA and the third-most strikeouts (96) in the country. The Citadel staked Sears to a 2-0 lead Friday with two-out RBI-singles in the third and fourth innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Carter Grote led off with the first home run allowed by Sears since March 10. Sky Overton followed with a triple and scored on Brandon Elmy's groundball to tie the game 2-2.
After Sears recorded the first two outs in the sixth, Landon Kay singled and Sims Griffith followed with a homer to left giving Furman a 4-2 lead.
Schuermann and relievers Heath Hawkins and Tyler Kimbrell made the lead hold up as Citadel had just one baserunner the rest of the way. Schuermann (4-4) allowed two runs, one earned, on nine hits over seven innings. He had no walks and five strikeouts.
Hawkins retired the Bulldogs in order in the eighth and Kimbrell did the same in the ninth. Kimbrell earned his first save in style, striking out a pair of batters to end the game.
Sears (4-2) allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings, with one walk and six strikeouts. It's the most runs and fewest strikeouts Sears has posted in SoCon play. In his four other SoCon games this season, Sears allowed six runs combined and piled up a total of 53 strikeouts.
Jonathan Sabo went 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead Citadel (12-27, 3-10).
Overton and Jabari Richards each had two hits for the Paladins (20-21, 8-8), who won for the first time this season when scoring four runs or fewer. Furman had been 0-14 in those games.
The teams play game two of the series Saturday with a new scheduled start time of noon.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Miscues cost Paladins in loss at Gardner-Webb

Furman played some pretty outstanding baseball during its eight-game winning streak, none more so than a 12-1 win over UNC Asheville Tuesday. But in baseball, all the things you did well one day can reverse course the next.
Such was the case for Furman in Boiling Springs, N.C. Wednesday night. Miscues in the field and on the basepaths, combined with a quiet night offensively added up to a 5-0 win for Gardner-Webb.
The loss denied the Paladins' bid to become the program's first team to win nine consecutive games since 1926.
Looking to build starting pitching depth ahead of the Southern Conference Tournament, Furman coach Brett Harker called on sophomore Jake Crawford to make his first start this season. After struggling as a starter at the beginning of the 2016 season, Crawford shined in his role as closer by the end. Crawford did have a make a start in last year's SoCon Tournament and he delivered, holding Samford to two runs over eight innings.
An all-too familiar problem for Crawford this season plagued him in the first inning Wednesday.
After Gardner-Webb leadoff man Paul Trick singled on an 0-2 pitch, Crawford retired the next two batters before Collin Thacker belted a home run to left-center. A dropped infield pop-up by Dillon Love - who was playing third in place of Crawford - allowed the inning to continue. Chandler Redmond made Furman pay with another two-run homer to push Gardner-Webb's lead to 4-0. It's the sixth homer allowed by Crawford this season.
The next two batters reached as the Bulldogs batted around before Crawford got out of the jam.
Crawford (1-3) settled in and was able to go four innings for the Paladins (19-21), allowing just one man to reach after the first.
Meanwhile, Furman's offense couldn't scratch a run off Gardner-Webb freshman left-hander Isaac Campbell, who entered with an 8.80 ERA. Despite allowing four hits and three walks, with just one strikeout, over 5 2/3 innings, Campbell (1-4) blanked the Paladins.
Furman blew a chance to score in the third. With catcher Jason Costa on second, Love hit a groundball up the middle that trickled just a few inches off the glove of a diving Trick at short. Trick got up, recovered the ball and threw out Costa at the plate.
After two outs in the top of the sixth, Carter Grote walked and Sky Overton hit a bunt single. Brandon Elmy greeted Bulldog reliever Taylor Goodwin with a rocket to the deepest part of the park, but centerfielder Peyton McGuire made a running catch of it just before he hit the fence.
Gardner-Webb pushed across an insurance run in the eighth. With two out, a Paladin outfield collision on a fly pop to left extended the inning. The Bulldogs (21-19) went on to score on a bases-loaded walk.
The Paladins had runners on the corners with two out in the ninth and Sims Griffith was ahead 3-0 in the count. But on that third ball, Gardner-Webb catcher Justin Kunz fired to first and picked off Landon Kay to end the game.
Overton had half of the Paladins' six hits as he went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
Furman returns to SoCon action this weekend with a home series against rival The Citadel. Friday's opening game is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Back in lineup, Kay helps Furman win 8th in a row

For baseball coaches, it must be very tempting to not dare tinker with the starting lineup of a team on a long winning streak. However, Furman coach Brett Harker made one change to his lineup for Tuesday's game against UNC Asheville and the Paladins didn't miss a beat - and didn't miss many baseballs either.

Furman piled up 17 hits and got solid pitching throughout in a 12-1 win at Latham Stadium. The Paladins (19-20) have won eight consecutive games for the first time since 2005.

The lineup change saw Landon Kay return after not having played in two weeks. Despite being one of the top hitters on the team this season, Kay was the odd man out in some lineup changes that helped spur Furman's turnaround from a nine-game losing streak.

Kay appeared to have not missed a beat Tuesday as he went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run.

Carter Grote staked the Paladins to a 1-0 lead in the first with a homer. Furman took command with a five-run fourth inning, highlight by Sky Overton's three-run homer. It was the fourth long ball this season for Kay, Grote and Overton.

Grote went 2-for-3 with two runs and 3 RBIs, while Overton had three hits, two runs and three RBIs. Jake Crawford went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs also for the Paladins.

Trent Alley (1-0) allowed one run on five hits in a season-high six innings to collect the win. Alley had one walk and four strikeouts. Furman relievers Tyler Kimbrell, Rutty Jones and Austin Wood blanked the Bulldogs (17-24) on one hit, and combined for no walks and four strikeouts, the rest of the way.

The Paladins travel to Gardner-Webb Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game. Crawford is expected to make his first pitching start of the season for Furman.

*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Furman sweeps doubleheader, series against ETSU

Furman got a pair of strong pitching performances and some offensive power from unexpected sources Saturday to claim both games of a doubleheader, 11-4 and 6-3, over ETSU. The doubleheader sweep gave Furman a Southern Conference series sweep for the second weekend in a row.
The Paladins (18-20, 7-8) have won seven consecutive games for the first time since 2005.
Game 2 - Furman 6, ETSU 3
Sophomore shortstop Bret Huebner went 3-for-3 and senior right-hander Matthew Quarles turned in another outstanding start in which he got stronger as the game went along as Furman completed the sweep.
A week after earning a complete game win at Western Carolina, Quarles worked eight innings Saturday. In last week's win, Quarles retired each of the final 15 batters. On Saturday, the Ninety Six native retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. Quarles (5-2) allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts for his 20th career win.
Over his last three starts, Quarles has 20 strikeouts and one walk in 22 1/3 innings.
Both teams traded runs in each of the first two innings before ETSU took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI-double by Hunter Parker.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Sims Griffith's home run tied the game 3-3. It was the junior's second homer this season and fifth of his career. Cam Whitehead and Huebner followed with singles, and Jake Crawford's groundball sent Whitehead home with the go-ahead run.
In the seventh, Carter Grote led off with his third homer pushing the Paladins advantage to 5-3.
An inning later, Huebner added another insurance run with the first homer of his collegiate career.
Billy Greenfield came on in relief of Quarles to start the ninth and needed just five pitches to retire the Buccaneers (19-18, 2-10) in order for his second save.
Game 1 - Furman 11, ETSU 4
Griffith had a career-high four hits and Whitehead had three hits and four RBIs as Furman cruised past ETSU in the opening game Saturday.
ETSU took a 2-0 lead six pitches into the game. After Bucs leadoff man Chris Cook hit a 1-2 pitch for a single, Aaron Maher lined Will Gaddis' next pitch for a triple and Hagen Owenby singled on the next pitch.
Gaddis' remaining 88 pitches went much better than the first six. Furman's ace allowed just those two runs on eight hits in seven innings of work. Gaddis (4-3) had no walks and four strikeouts.
After struggling with clutch hitting much of the season, Furman came up with some big hits in key spots to give Gaddis plenty of support.
In the bottom of the third, Jabari Richards singled and Carter Grote walked with one out. One out later, the Paladins strung together four consecutive run-scoring hits. Sky Overton and Brandon Elmy had RBI-singles, Griffith hit a two-run double down the left field line, and Whitehead capped the scoring with a two-run singles up the middle to give Furman a 5-2 lead.
Whitehead replicated that at-bat his next time up. With two out in the fifth, the senior catcher lined another groundball up the middle for two more runs to push the lead to 7-2.
The Paladins added two runs apiece in the sixth and seventh innings. Ten of Furman's 11 runs scored with two out.
Next up for Furman is a pair of midweek games. The Paladins host UNC Asheville Tuesday at 6 p.m. and play at Gardner-Webb Wednesday at 7 p.m.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Griffith's walk-off single delivers Paladins' fifth straight win

With two out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Sims Griffith singled and Carter Grote raced home from second with the winning run as Furman defeated ETSU 9-8 Friday at Latham Stadium.
It's the fifth consecutive win for the Paladins (16-20, 5-8 Southern Conference).
During the previous four games of the win streak, Furman made just one error. It appeared the Paladins were set for another error-less game Friday before a mishap opened the door for ETSU to tie the game in the ninth.
With Furman clinging to an 8-7 lead, Heath Hawkins struck out the first two batters in the ninth. However, the second required a throw to first which sailed down the right-field line allowing Hagen Owenby to reach. The Buccaneers followed with back-to-back singles to tie the game.
Billy Greenfield (1-1) came on in relief and retired the next five batters, including a pair of strikeouts in the 10th, to set the stage for the Paladins' walk-off win.
Carter Grote led off the 10th with his fourth hit of the game and was sacrificed to second by Jason Costa. After Sky Overton was intentionally walked, Cam Whitehead struck out and Sims Griffith fell behind 0-2 before roping a single to left to end the game.
Griffith's clutch hit was a welcome sight after Furman stranded 13 baserunners in the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the second and seventh innings.
ETSU (19-16, 2-8) led 5-1 going into the bottom of the fifth before Whitehead blasted a home run to left to cut the lead in half.
The Paladins' rally carried over to the sixth. After Bret Huebner's one-out walk, Jake Crawford and Jabari Richards followed with back-to-back triples to tie the game. Grote gave Furman three extra-base hits in a row and a 6-5 lead with an RBI-double to left. One out later, Overton capped the four-run inning with an RBI-single.
Both teams scored single runs in the seventh before the Bucs had single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
In addition to the four-hit games for Grote and Overton, Crawford had three hits in Furman's 16-hit effort.
Owenby, Chris Cook and Christian Bailey each had three hits and two RBIs for ETSU.
The teams wrap up the series Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

New lineup additions spur turnaround

Furman junior Jason Costa

Furman carries a four-game winning streak into its home weekend series against ETSU which begins Friday at 6 p.m. That streak came after a nine-game losing skid that included some stunning, heartbreaking losses during the toughest portion of the schedule.

While improvement has been seen in all phases of the game during the turnaround, specifically some Paladins looking to take command of a spot in Coach Brett Harker's lineup have done just that.

Hitting-wise, no one has done that quite like junior Jason Costa. Costa is in his first year at Furman from national JUCO power Walters State.

Even though Costa has started only 20 games, he ranks second on the team in batting (.333), home runs (4), slugging (.543) and on-base percentage (.426). Costa saw limited early playing time as the Paladins' backup catcher, but he's started each of the last 14 games splitting time as designated hitter and catcher.

"I challenge guys all the time telling them, 'they make the lineup, I don't,' and he's forced his way in," Harker said. "He's such a good leader of this team and that doesn't happen often in your first year coming from a junior college.

"He's got baseball savvy with a little bit of an old-school, blue-collar work ethic and boy, can he hit."

Costa's move to DH has shifted Jabari Richards back to the outfield, and the 2016 SoCon Freshman of the Year has rallied after a slow start this season in which he didn't start against left-handed pitchers.

Richards has started each of the last seven games and batted .357, with seven runs and four RBIs, raising his season average to .284. In Furman's most recent win Wednesday, Richards hit a long homer to centerfield off a Presbyterian left-hander.

"I think Jabari has his confidence back and that's when he's really dangerous," Harker said. "Last year, he was almost all the opposite field (hitting). This year, he can drive it to right field and that makes defense tough. He's learned to hit it where it's pitched."

While Furman has committed a SoCon-worst 47 errors this season, the Paladins have only made one during the four-game winning streak. Comparatively, Furman committed 15 errors during the nine-game losing streak, including 10 in the final three games of it.

The recent run of solid defensive play has coincided with Bret Huebner's return to the starting lineup at shortstop. While Furman is 15-20 overall (4-8 SoCon), the Paladins are 10-9 when Huebner has started at short. Huebner has also come through offensively of late as he's gone 5-of-11 with four runs and three RBIs over the last three games pushing his season average up to .266.

"All we've ever asked him is to make the routine play and give us a chance at the tough play ... along with things that are never going to show up in the boxscore, and he's done really well at those," Harker said.

While some lineup tweaks have provided a spark, season-long stalwarts such as Brandon Elmy and Carter Grote have remained hot during the turnaround. Elmy (.356/6/26) leads the Paladins in batting, homers, doubles (12) and slugging (.566), while Grote (.324/2/29) leads in RBIs, triples (5) and on-base percentage (.429).

*Photo provided by Furman University.

Paladins complete season sweep of Presbyterian

Six Furman batters had at least two hits as the Paladins completed a season sweep of Presbyterian with an 11-6 win Wednesday at Latham Stadium. Furman (15-20) knocked off the Blue Hose (20-19) in Clinton and at Fluor Field earlier this season.
Brandon Elmy's team-leading sixth home run gave Furman a 1-0 lead in the first. After PC tied it in the third, the Paladins responded in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-run home run to center by Jabari Richards.
The Blue Hose answered right back in the fourth with a two-out rally. No. 9 hitter Brett Auckland hit a two-run double and Glen Casaceli followed with an RBI-single to give PC a 4-3 lead.
Furman, which scored in all but two innings, tied things up in the bottom of the inning. Sky Overton led off with a walk, advanced to third after a pair of wild pitches, and came home on Sims Griffith's sac fly.
The Paladins took the lead for good one inning later. Cameron Whitehead had a bases loaded single to break the tie and Bret Huebner's sac fly gave Furman a 6-4 lead.
A four-run seventh helped seal Furman's win. It was highlighted by Jake Crawford's two-run double.
After entering a 10-6 game with two on and two out in the eighth, Furman's Heath Hawkins struck out Casaceli to get out of the jam. Hawkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.
Reliever Tyler Kimbrell (1-0), a junior formerly of Spartanburg Methodist, allowed one run on two hits over three innings for his first win as a Paladin.
The bottom third of Furman's lineup (Whitehead, Huebner and Crawford) combined to go 7-for-11 with four runs and five RBI. Whitehead had three hits to lead the Paladins' 14-hit attack and raise his batting average from .195 to .220.
Auckland went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs to lead the Blue Hose.
Furman returns to Southern Conference play this weekend when the Paladins host ETSU. First pitch of Friday's opening game of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Quarles earns SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Coming off a complete game victory at Western Carolina, Furman's Matthew Quarles has been selected as the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week.
The senior from Ninety Six allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits as the Paladins completed a series sweep with a 5-2 win. It's the second complete game of the season for Quarles (4-2), who retired 15 consecutive batters to end Saturday's game.
It's the 19th career win for Quarles, which ranks fifth-most in school history.
In posting eight strikeouts and no walks Saturday, Quarles helped Furman's staff finish with 24 strikeouts and two walks in the three-game series.
Quarles is a math major who has a 3.80 GPA. He's made the SoCon's Academic Honor Roll each of his first three years.
Furman returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Presbyterian at 6 p.m.
The Paladins (14-20) will be going for their sixth consecutive victory over the Blue Hose (20-18), including third this season. Furman won 6-0 in Clinton and defeated PC 7-6 at Fluor Field earlier this season.
Freshman right-hander Trent Alley (0-0, 1.80 ERA) is expected to make his first career start for Furman.
*Photo courtesy of Furman University.

Quarles helps Paladins complete sweep at Western Carolina

Furman and Western Carolina entered their Southern Conference series heading in opposite directions. By the end of it, they'd seemingly swapped lanes.
Senior right-hander Matthew Quarles tossed a complete game as the Paladins finished off a sweep at Western Carolina with a 5-2 win Saturday.
While the Catamounts entered the series having won seven straight games, Furman was riding a nine-game losing streak. The sweep moved the Paladins to 11-2 in its last 13 games against WCU.
Quarles (4-2) allowed just one earned run on four hits in recording his second complete game of the season. Quarles had no walks and eight strikeouts, throwing 83 of his 127 pitches for strikes.
Furman jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a Jason Costa RBI-single and a Sky Overton sac fly in the first and a Carter Grote sac fly in the second.
Justin Sparks led off the Western Carolina fifth with a single. After an error sent Sparks to third, he scored on a groundout cutting Furman's lead to 4-2.
Sparks' hit turned out to be the last of the game for the Catamounts (16-18, 7-5) as Quarles retired 15 consecutive batters to end the game.
Costa, Jabari Richards and Bret Huebner each had two hits, while Costa also had two RBIs to lead the Paladins (14-20, 4-8).
Furman, which has played just four home games since March 20, plays nine of its next 10 games at Latham Stadium. That stretch begins Wednesday when the Paladins host Presbyterian at 6 p.m.

Furman clinches first SoCon series win

A day after snapping a nine-game losing streak, it appeared that the Furman baseball team might suffer another inexplicable loss like quite a few that were part of the skid. But after seeing a six-run lead disappear, the Paladins came back for its first extra innings win of the season.
Sky Overton's RBI-double in the 10th inning put Furman ahead, and Jake Crawford needed just eight pitches to retire Western Carolina in order in the bottom of the inning as the Paladins won 8-7. The victory clinched Furman's first Southern Conference series win of the season.
Furman (13-20, 3-8) has now won 10 of its last 12 games against the Catamounts (16-17, 7-4).
The Paladins jumped on top in the first inning when Carter Grote tripled and came home on a two-out single by Jason Costa. After WCU tied it in their half of the first, Furman came back with a pair of runs in the second on a sac fly by Jabari Richards and a run-scoring single by Grote.
Furman pushed its lead to 7-1 with a four-run sixth. Bret Huebner had an RBI-double, Richards hit another sac fly and Grote capped the inning with a two-run homer.
Furman left-handed starter Grant Schuermann was cruising along until a rain delay stopped play with one out in the top of the seventh. After a one hour, seven minute delay, the Catamounts came roaring back. Cameron Blaquiere's three-run homer in the seventh cut the Paladins' lead to 7-4.
WCU scored three in the ninth, capped by Matt Smith's two-out RBI single, to force extra innings.
While WCU was rallying, Furman's offense failed to score despite having a runner on third base and less than two outs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
Brandon Elmy led off the 10th with a hustle double, took third on a sacrifice by Dillon Love, and scored on Overton's drive into the right-centerfield gap.
Grote, Elmy, Overton and Sims Griffith each had three hits to power Furman's 19-hit output. Smith had three hits to lead the Catamounts, who collected 16 hits.
The Paladins will try to complete the sweep Saturday at 2 p.m.
*Video courtesy of Dan Scott.

Paladins snap losing streak

In the weird, wonderful world of baseball, here's one out of left field: Furman snapped its longest losing streak in 13 years Friday after its ace pitcher allowed a career-high 13 hits.
Will Gaddis scattered those 13 hits over seven innings as the Paladins won 6-5 at Western Carolina. Gaddis (3-3) gave up four runs, walked one and struck out four as Furman ended a nine-game losing streak. The Paladins' win also snapped the Catamounts' seven-game winning streak.
Furman (12-20, 2-8 Southern Conference) trailed 2-0 in the fourth when Friday's designated hitter Jason Costa singled, stole second and took third on a passed ball. As part of a double steal, Costa stole home to cut the lead in half.
After Carter Grote and Brandon Elmy began the sixth inning with singles, Costa followed with a home run to put the Paladins ahead 5-2. In 17 starts and just 70 at-bats this season, Costa ranks second on the team in batting average (.343) and homers (4).
The Catamounts (16-16, 7-3) scored twice in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 5-4, but Costa helped Furman answer in the eighth. Costa drew a walk leading off the inning and later scored on Cameron Whitehead's sacrifice fly.
Western Carolina cut the lead to 6-5 in the ninth and had runners on first and third with two out. Furman's Jake Crawford got Andrew Bullock to line out to first to end the game and record his fourth save.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Friday. First pitch shifted from 5 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. because of weather concerns.

Game 31: USC Upstate 14, Furman 7

Every Furman starter had a hit, including two apiece for the top five batters in the lineup, but it was not enough as USC Upstate defeated the Paladins 14-7 Tuesday at Latham Stadium. The Spartans (15-20) had just one extra-base hit, a double, but piled up 16 singles and took advantage of four Furman errors to get the win.
The Paladins (11-20) held a 7-6 lead after five innings before Upstate erupted with a five-run sixth. The Spartans sealed the win with three unearned runs in the ninth.
Upstate's sixth pitcher, Bryan Hathaway, shut out Furman over the final 4 1/3 innings to secure the win. Hathaway (2-2) allowed two hits, one walk and struck out three.
Leadoff man Devon Ortiz had four hits and four runs for the Spartans, while Charlie Carpenter had three hits, Brendan Brundage had three RBIs and Russel Schwertfeger scored three runs.
Brandon Elmy drove in three runs and Jabari Richards had three runs to lead the Paladins, who've lost nine straight games for the first time since 2004.
Things won't get any easier for Furman when it travels to Western Carolina for a three-game series beginning Thursday because of Easter Sunday. After being swept each of the past two weekends by Mercer (8-1 Southern Conference) and UNC Greensboro (7-2), the Paladins will be facing a Catamount squad that's also 7-2 in the SoCon.
First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 5 p.m.

UNCG completes sweep

Michael Goss and Caleb Webster each went 3-for-4 to power UNC Greensboro to a 9-3 win over Furman Sunday giving the Spartans a sweep of the series. It's the eighth consecutive loss for the Paladins, who fell to 11-19 overall and 1-8 in the Southern Conference.
Landon Kay's third home run gave Furman an early 1-0 lead before UNCG came back with a four-run fourth, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Goss and Webster and a two-run home run by Tripp Shelton.
Sky Overton and Sims Griffith had back-to-back RBI-singles in the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3, but the Spartans (21-10, 7-2) answered with another four-spot in the bottom of the inning. Goss and Webster had RBI-triples and Shelton followed with a sac fly.
Goss, Webster and Shelton, UNCG's 4-5-6 hitters, accounted for all nine RBIs and seven of the Spartans' 11 hits.
Matthew Quarles (3-2) allowed eight runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss. He had no walks and four strikeouts.
Saturday: UNCG 7, Furman 6, 11 inn.
Furman has had plenty of heartbreaking losses during its skid, including Saturday when the Paladins fell to 0-3 in extra innings this season. In each of the three games Furman has scored in the ninth and/or led in extra innings.
On Saturday, the game was tied 5-5 after six innings. Despite the Paladins getting leadoff doubles in the seventh and ninth innings, there was no more scoring until the 11th.
After Furman's Carter Grote singled leading off the 11th, he went to second on a sac bunt, took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
The lead was short-lived as UNCG No. 9 hitter Ryne Sigmon sent Heath Hawkins' first pitch of the bottom of the inning over the rightfield fence for the lone homer of the game. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases before Webster ended the game with a walk-off sac fly.
Jabari Richards had three hits, while Grote had two hits, two RBIs and two runs to lead the Paladins.
Leadoff man Austin Embler had four hits and four runs scored for the Spartans.
Hawkins (2-3) took the loss despite pitching well in relief of Furman starter Grant Schuermann. Hawkins allowed two runs on four hits in four innings. He had one walk and four strikeouts. Schuermann gave up five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in six innings.
The Paladins play their first midweek home game since March 8 when USC Upstate visits Latham Stadium for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday. Furman defeated the Spartans 7-4 in Spartanburg earlier this season.

Paladins suffer another Friday loss

After back-to-back heartbreaking Friday losses in which big leads were blown late, Furman's offense was shut down Friday at UNC Greensboro. The Spartans' Bryce Hensley fired seven shutout innings as Furman fell 3-1.
It's the sixth consecutive loss for the Paladins (11-17, 1-6 Southern Conference), who fell to 2-6 in weekend series openers this year. Led by 2016 SoCon Pitcher of the Year Will Gaddis, Furman went 9-5 in series openers last season.
The Paladins wasted a terrific start by Gaddis Friday. Facing the top-hitting team in the nation (.338), Gaddis (2-3) allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits in seven innings. He had one walk and four strikeouts.
Furman's offense never really threatened Hensley (5-3), who allowed three hits and four walks. The Paladins snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak when Brandon Elmy led off the ninth with his fifth home run.
That was the lone hit allowed by UNCG reliever Andrew Wantz, who earned his third save.
Michael Goss had two hits and two RBIs, while Andrew Moritz had two hits and two runs scored to lead the Spartans (19-10, 5-2).
The teams play game two of the series Saturday at 3 p.m.

Game 27: South Carolina 6, Furman 1

Former Wren High standout L.T. Tolbert had two hits and three RBIs to lead 11th-ranked South Carolina to a 6-1 win over Furman Tuesday night in Columbia. USC improves to 20-8, while the Paladins' fifth straight loss drops their record to 11-16.
Looking to snap out of its recent funk against the toughest portion of the 2017 schedule, Furman got on the board first Tuesday. Landon Kay led off the game with a single. After a wild pitch and groundout, another wild pitch sent Kay home giving the Paladins a 1-0 lead.
It was all Gamecocks the rest of the way. Tolbert's RBI-single tied the game in the second inning and Carlos Cortes hit a two-run single with two out in the fourth to put USC ahead for good. Tolbert capped the scoring with a two-run single in the fifth.
Cody Morris (2-0) allowed one run on four hits in five innings to get the win. He had no walks and three strikeouts.
Hunter Baker (1-1) gave up six runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Backup catcher Jason Costa went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles to lead Furman.
The Paladins return to action this weekend with a SoCon series at UNC Greensboro. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Mercer completes sweep of Furman

A frustrating series for Furman's baseball team wrapped up Sunday at Latham Stadium. Mercer scored a run in the 10th to take a 7-6 lead and held on to complete a weekend sweep of the Paladins.
Furman falls to 11-15 overall and 1-5 in the Southern Conference, while the Bears improve to 24-6 and 5-1 in league play.
Next up for the Paladins, who have lost seven of their last eight games, is another stiff test. Furman plays at No. 11 South Carolina Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Sunday: Mercer 7, Furman 6, 10 inn.
Furman jumped out to an early lead scoring three times with two out in the first inning. Sky Overton had an RBI-single, and Sims Griffith hit a two-run single to give the Paladins a 3-0 lead.
Furman held a 5-3 lead through five innings before seeing it disappear. Mercer catcher Charlie Madden belted his 12th home run, which is tied for second-most in Division I, leading off the sixth. The Bears added single runs in the seventh and eighth to take a 6-5 lead.
The Paladins loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but only scoring the tying run on a Jason Costa groundout.
Mercer's Alex Crotty led off the 10th with a double and later scored the go-ahead run on a groundout.
Furman starter Matthew Quarles allowed four runs on four hits in six innings. He had two walks and six strikeouts. Heath Hawkins (2-2) gave up a run on three hits and three walks in two innings to suffer the loss.
Carter Grote went 3-for-3 to lead the Paladins.
Saturday: Mercer 5, Furman 3
Furman outhit Mercer 14-7 Saturday, but could not come up with enough big hits when needed as the Paladins stranded 15 baserunners. Furman left at least one man on base in every inning, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and eighth innings.
Landon Kay had three hits, while Brandon Elmy had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Paladins.
Furman left-hander Grant Schuermann (3-4) allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings to take the loss. He had one walk and three strikeouts.

Game 24: Mercer 5, Furman 4

It was deja vu all over again for the Furman baseball team Friday night.
Exactly a week after a heartbreaking loss at Wofford in which the Paladins blew a four-run lead in the 10th, Furman blew a four-run lead in the ninth Friday at Latham Stadium as Mercer rallied for a 5-4 win.
Facing an outstanding Mercer team that improved to 22-6 and 3-1 in the Southern Conference, Furman's Will Gaddis was dominant for eight scoreless innings. Gaddis, who had a no-hitter until a single with two out in the sixth, gave up two hits, three walks and struck out 10. Of Gaddis' 99 pitches, 72 went for strikes.
The Paladins (11-13, 1-3) staked Gaddis to a 4-0 lead thanks to a two-out, two-run single by Carter Grote in the seventh and a solo home run by Sky Overton in the eighth.
But the Bears made quick work of Furman's bullpen in the ninth. After a leadoff double on an 0-2 pitch, a flyout, and a single on an 0-2 pitch, Mercer's Hunter Bening clubbed an 0-1 pitch for his eighth home run to cut the lead to 4-3. Ryan Hagan followed by hitting a 1-1 pitch from Heath Hawkins over the leftfield fence for his first home run to tie the game.
Furman closer Jake Crawford came on in relief of Hawkins. Following a strikeout, Mercer's ninth-place hitter Alex Hanson sent a 3-2 pitch out for his third home run to put Mercer on top.
Bears' reliever Robert Broom delivered a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his first save.
The Paladins, who have lost five of their last six games, will try to get back on track in Saturday's second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.