Furman 8, Elon 7
Greenville, S.C. - Furman used a seven-run third inning and survived a late Elon rally to down the Phoenix, 8-7, and take the rubber game of a three-game Southern Conference softball series on Thursday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
The win improved the Paladins to 16-29 overall and 8-13 in SoCon play while Elon slipped to 24-22 overall and 9-12 in the league.
With the potential tying run on third base and potential go-ahead run on second base with one out in the top of the seventh inning, Furman hurler Kayla Suskauer struck out Pam DelPizzo looking and got Camile Hill to ground out to third baseman Emily Boyer to secure the series victory in Furman's 2011 home finale.
Furman led the game 8-1 entering the seventh, but DelPizzo, Hill and Danielle Lafferty opened the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Jackie Gonzalez singled to left-center to drive in one run before Carleigh Nester reached on an infield single to trim the lead to 8-3.
After Suskauer fanned Caitlin McGowan for the first out of the frame, Tomeka Watson and Emerald Graham drew back-to-back walks to force in runs and pull the Phoenix within 8-5. Kaitlyn Piazzolla singled back up the middle to score two more runs and advanced to second on the throw to the plate, but Suskauer retired the next two batters to capture her 11th victory in the circle and give the Paladins a 13-7 home record for the season.
Furman opened the scoring with its seven-run outburst in the bottom half of the third. Katie Michaels and Stephanie Field ignited the rally with consecutive walks to chase Elon starter Erin O'Shea from the circle. Nikki Legg grounded back to reliever Lauren Taylor but reached safely when Taylor turned to deliver a throw to third base only to find the base uncovered.
Taylor plunked Jessie Homesley to force in the Paladins' first run and, after a wild pitch plated Field, Morgan Hughey followed with a two-run single to center field to up the margin to 4-0. Stephanie Spain singled to extend the run as Elon was forced to go to its bullpen again. Hannah Pace greeted reliever Kari Pervell by lining an RBI double to left-center and Michaels capped the rally three batters later by looping a two-run single into right field with two outs.
Elon answered with a single run in the fifth on Nester's solo homer before Legg scored on a Phoenix error in the bottom of the sixth.
Suskauer, who improved to 11-13 in the circle, allowed seven runs on nine hits over seven innings. The Tampa, Fla., native walked four batters and fanned three in claiming her second win of the series.
Hughey upped her league-leading batting average to .409 going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Michaels went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs driven in.
O'Shea suffered the loss for Elon giving up two runs on one hit in two-plus innings. The lefthander walked two batters and struck out three. Nester led the Phoenix offensively going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs.
Furman will take a week long break during exams before concluding its non-conference schedule with a doubleheader at Presbyterian College on May 5, at 3 p.m. The Paladins will travel to Appalachian State for their final SoCon regular season series May 8-9.