Feb. 18, 2011

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, S.C.-Second baseman Will Muzika launched a three-run homer in the bottom half of the seventh inning to lift the Furman baseball team past Ohio 6-3 Friday at Latham Stadium in the season opener for both squads.

Designated hitter Wade Reese collected two hits and right fielder Will Miller added a pair of runs driven in for the Paladins, who swept the Bobcats last season.

Ohio got two hits and two RBIs from third baseman Dan Ward, while shortstop Wes O'Neill blasted a solo homer. Eight of the Bobcats' nine starters notched at least one hit on the day.

Furman reliever Jay Friedman got the win, allowing just one hit over three and two-thirds innings with two strikeouts. Dylan Cole pitched the ninth for the save, posting one strikeout and allowing one hit. Starter Bobby Lyne left in the fifth after surrendering two earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Ohio reliever Ben Trimbur suffered the loss after allowing Muzika's homer and four other hits with six strikeouts and no walks in four and two-thirds innings. Starter Seth Streich went three and one-thirds innings and allowed three hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

The Bobcats got out to a three-run lead through one and a half innings after second baseman Bryan Barnes and center fielder Ethan Newton came home on Ward's first-inning double down the left field line. O'Neill's shot down the left field line in the second provided Ohio's third tally.

The Paladins tied the game with three runs in third before Muzika's blast accounted for the game's final margin.

Paladin pitchers plunked four Ohio batters compared to just one for the Bobcats.

The two teams will play a doubleheader, beginning at noon, on Saturday.