Feb. 15, 2006
Box Score
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Edmond Locklear delivered a pinch-hit home run in the
ninth inning to tie the game and scored the game winner in the 11th inning
to lift UNC-Asheville to a 5-3 victory over Furman in the season opener
for both teams Wednesday at Furman Stadium.
With Furman holding a 3-2 lead in the ninth, Locklear belted Paladin
reliever David Mitchell's offering over the right center field fence to
tie the game at 3-3. In the 11th, Locklear was hit by Paladin reliever
Butch Pucetas to lead off the frame and later scored the go-ahead run on
Matt Henson's infield single. The Bulldogs' Elliott Arrington followed
with two-out single to right field to score Steven Burnish for a 5-3
advantage.
Chris White (1-0), who pitched the final three innings, survived a shaky
final frame to earn the victory for the Bulldogs (1-0). Butch Pucetas
(0-1) absorbed the loss for the Paladins (0-1).
Arrington homered and drove in three runs as part of a 4-for-6 performance
to pace UNC-Asheville's attack. Furman, which could muster only seven
hits, was led at the plate by Tony Maccani, who went 2-for-4.
Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Andrew Greene reached
on an error and came home in front of Jay Jackson's double to center field.
UNC-Asheville tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning against Paladin
reliever Matt Klinker. With two outs, Arrington doubled down the left
field line to score Kyle Smith.
The Paladins answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to
take a 3-1 lead. Maccani singled to lead off and scored on Ben Terry's
triple down the right field line. Terry then crossed home plate on Andrew
Greene's infield hit.
Arrington led off the UNCA eighth with a home run to left center off
Paladin reliever
Mason Smith. Bulldog pinch-hitter Johnny Martinez
followed with a double to right center, but Smith recovered by retiring
the next two hitters on groundouts and striking out Rob Vernon to end the
threat.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 3-3 in the ninth inning on Locklear's blast.
Furman will entertain High Point in a doubleheader this Saturday at Furman
Stadium beginning at 1:00 p.m.
