March 6, 2010

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, S.C.-The Furman baseball team scored 13 runs Saturday and left only four runners on base to down visiting Ohio 13-8 at Latham Stadium.

Furman improved to 4-6 overall, while Ohio dropped to 1-7.

Paladin second baseman Will Muzika, shortstop J.B. Jenkins and right fielder Will Owens all knocked in two runs, while Jenkins, designated hitter John Paterson and first baseman Aaron Thompkins contributed two hits apiece. Thompkins also had a team-best three runs scored.

Ohio right fielder Robert Maddox III had a team-high four hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. Shortstop Wesley O’Neill also drove in two runs, while catcher Kris McDonough and center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire posted a pair of hits.

Paladin reliever Brian Smith got the win (1-0), tossing two innings and allowing one run on one hit with one walk. Brian Stallsmith got his first save by yielding just three hits over the game’s final three innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

Ohio reliever Michael Dillon (0-2) suffered his second loss, surrendering three earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks over four innings. Bobcat reliever Brock Trimbur also had a nice outing at the end, keeping the home team scoreless in its last three innings with just two hits and two strikeouts.

“We’re breaking in new people at new positions and we’re still just not consistent enough defensively behind our pitching,” said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone. “Without being able to get outside and practice, a lot of our guys are still getting used to the speed of the game. We played pretty well offensively and Robert Maddox had a very good day.”

Furman put up five runs in the first two innings, but Ohio fought back with a run in each of the second and third innings. Maddox reached on a fielding error by left fielder Jake Kline in the second inning and came around to score when Sam Mahoney grounded into a double play. In the third inning, O’Neill walked and raced around to score when second baseman Bryan Barnes drove him in with a double to right center.

Ohio sliced the advantage to one (5-4) when O’Neill knocked a two-run single up the middle to drive in Mahoney and Maddox. Maddox had doubled down the left field line earlier, while Mahoney drew a walk.

Furman put up two more in the bottom half of the inning, but Ohio roared back with four in the fifth inning to take a brief 8-7 lead. The Bobcats chased Furman starter Brian Dudzinski in this inning when Eldemire (double), first baseman Jerod Yakubik (RBI single), Maddox (two-run homer) and McDonough (solo homer) all strung together hits. However, Furman finished the game by responding with two runs in the bottom of the frame and four more in the bottom of the sixth for the final margin.

The Ohio battery surrendered two stolen bases, but McDonough did throw out Kline and Muzika attempting to steal. Three Furman runs were unearned due to Bobcat errors in the field.

The final game of the series will begin Sunday at 1 p.m. when Ohio will send freshman right hander Ryan Bores (0-2) to the mound.