March 13, 2013
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Behind homers from Ambree Muller and Lauren Collier, Furman (9-11) took the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader from South Carolina (15-6) 8-6 at Pepsi Stadium.
Collier hit the difference maker with two outs in the sixth, a three-run shot to left center to hand the Paladins an 8-5 lead. That scored Sieara Bishop and Natalie Clemmons, who reached with one down on a hit and a hit by pitch, respectively. South Carolina tried to tie the game in the seventh, getting an RBI groundout from freshman left fielder Alaynie Page, but with a runner at third, Paladin left fielder Muller made a diving catch to rob a hit from the Gamecocks that would have drawn them to within one, instead ending the game.
Furman took its first lead in the bottom of the fourth. Bishop doubled home Nikki Legg with no one out. After a pop out, Muller came up and poked one the other way that just cleared the left-field wall, giving the Paladins the 5-4 lead. South Carolina tied it in the top of the sixth on sophomore centerfielder Kristen Struett’s RBI double, plating junior pinch runner Brooke Barnhill.
South Carolina got a 2-0 lead in the second, as senior shortstop Samie Garcia got a two-RBI single, scoring redshirt senior first baseman Kelley Dillon and sophomore right fielder Chelsea Hawkins. Furman scored runs in the second and third to knot the game at 2-2. Stephanie Spain had an RBI single in the second, scoring Stephanie Field, while Field drove in the run in the third with her hit to center, scoring Clemmons.
The Gamecocks retook the lead in the fourth on freshman pinch hitter Ansley Ard’s single, scoring junior third baseman Codee Yeske and Garcia, the latter after a throw from the Paladin second basemen got away in the infield. But Furman answered in the bottom of the frame.
Shelby Parker (2-2) got the victory for Furman, giving up two earned runs on a hit and a walk in a 1.2 innings. Meaghan Houston picked up her fourth save of the year, giving up a walk while fanning one in the seventh. Gamecock freshman Katie Marks (5-3) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits while fanning three in 3.2 innings.
Hawkins went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Garcia went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Dillon scored twice in a 1-for-3 day. Bishop led the Paladins with a 3-for-4 day, scoring twice and driving in a run. Field went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
