May 12, 2006

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Joey Friddle's two-run double in the seventh inning lifted nationally 21st-ranked College of Charleston to a 3-2 win over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Friday night at Furman Stadium.

With the score tied 1-1, Friddle, a senior outfielder from nearby Travelers Rest, S.C., lined a one-out offering by Paladin starting pitcher Matt Klinker into the right centerfield gap to score Alex Garabedian and Clay McCord. College of Charleston (37-11, 18-4 SoCon) then weathered a shaky eighth inning before retiring the Paladins in order in the ninth to post its seventh straight victory in Greenville.

The loss marked the sixth straight league setback for Furman (29-18, 13-9 SoCon).

College of Charleston starting pitcher Graham Godfrey (7-2) picked up the victory after working seven innings and surrendering six hits, two earned runs, and two walks while matching his career high with nine strikeouts.

Cougar closer Josh McLaughlin came on in the eighth and pitched out of a bases loaded, no-out situation by allowing only one hit while striking out three over the final two innings to record his 14th save of the season. CofC pitching combined to fan 12 Paladin hitters.

College of Charleston collected 10 hits in the contest, including three by Friddle, who went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Garabedian, McCord, and Larry Cobb added two hits each for the Cougars.

Joe Daysh and Marcus Rose had two hits each for the Paladins, who finished with seven hits -- all singles.

Paladin starting pitcher Matt Klinker absorbed the loss after yielding nine hits and three runs, including two earned, and two walks over seven innings. He struck out two.

College of Charleston took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an unearned run. McCord reached first and advanced to second on a throwing error by Paladin third baseman Joe Daysh. Friddle followed with a bunt single that moved McCord to third before coming home on Phillip Coker's double play groundout.

Furman answered with a game tying run in the bottom of the frame. After Andrew Greene and Marcus Rose reached on back-to-back bunt singles, both players advanced on a wild pitch. Ben Terry followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Greene. Furman failed, however, to add to the inning as Godfrey struck out Will Stembridge with Rose at third base for the second out, and Case Cassedy was retired on a fly to centerfield to end the frame.

College of Charleston took a 3-1 lead in the seventh. With one out Garabedian singled up the middle. McCord followed with a bloop double that hit the left field line and moved Garabedian to third. Friddle then delivered a line drive, two-run double into the right center field gap to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead. Klinker limited the damage by getting Coker on a liner to centerfield and Marmol on an infield fly.

In the Furman eighth Terry was hit by a Godfrey pitch, and Stembridge reached on an infield single. McLaughlin then came on for Godfrey and gave up an RBI single to Case Cassedy. A.J. Davidiuk's bunt back to the mound was misplayed by McLaughlin, which loaded the bases with no outs. McLaughlin recovered by striking out Jay Jackson, getting Will Stembridge on a force on third baseman Jess Easterling's diving stop and throw home, and retiring Tony Maccani on inning ending groundout.

Saturday's game two is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.