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.