GREENVILLE, S.C. - A five-run outburst in the first inning by a Furman offense that had been neutralized by Ohio pitching the first two games of the series denied the Bobcats a sweep in an 8-2 defeat Sunday afternoon.

Bobcat right-hander Zeke Isaacs (West Carrollton, Ohio) took the loss, recording only one out and allowing five runs on three hits in his first start of the season. In contrast, Furman hurler Ben Hunter (2-0) threw six strong innings of one-hit ball to quiet the Bobcat bats that had pounded Paladin pitching the first two games of the series for 17 runs and 23 hits.

The first five Furman batters all reached base on the sophomore Isaacs (0-1), whose infield didn?t help by committing an error and allowing a runner to reach on a fielder?s choice without recording an out. Yale Silverman (Baton Rouge, La.) came on for the Bobcats with two runners on and already facing a 4-0 deficit and recorded the final two outs, allowing one more runner to cross.

The Paladins (3-4) added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0 before the Bobcats (2-4) got on the board. Phil Sabatini (Oakmont, Pa.) singled down the left field line and Brian Colopy (Columbus, Ohio) followed suit, taking one down the right field stripe, for the first Ohio offensive threat of the afternoon. Anthony Gressick (Lancaster, Ohio) then registered an infield hit which brought Sabatini home for the Bobcats? first tally. Ben Crabtree (Roxbury, Conn.) singled to right field to plate Colopy and bring the score to 6-2 with two runners on and no outs. The Paladins were able to escape without any further damage, however, as Jared Willis (Logan W.Va.) and Willie Walker (Marysville, Ohio) struck out and Brian White (Frankfort, Ohio) flied out to center.

Furman tacked on two more runs in the bottom half of the eighth with a home run from Matthew Bestill and the second RBI hit of the day by Andrew Green.

The performance of the freshman Hunter, making only his second career start, was the story of the game. The right-hander from West Chester, Ohio, struck out nine, walked only three, and allowed one hit in 24 batters faced.

The Bobcats will return to the Carolinas for the third week in a row when they travel to UNC Greensboro for a three-game set next Friday through Sunday against the Spartans. Game time is set for 6 p.m., on Friday and 1 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.