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Furman Falls To Wofford, 5-3, In SoCoCon Tournament First Round
May 22, 2007
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Ben Austin hurled seven strong innings and Brandon Waring went 2-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs to propel Wofford to a 5-3 win over Furman in 2007 Southern Conference Tournament first round action Tuesday afternoon at Joseph P. Riley Park.
With the win Wofford (26-31) advances to play tournament No. 1 seed College of Charleston at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.
The loss ends the season for Furman (19-36).
Austin pitched into the eighth inning to earn the victory and improve to 10-5 on the season. He allowed only one run on five hits over seven innings and walked three while recording four strikeouts.
Waring doubled in a pair of runs in the first inning to help stake Wofford to an early 3-0 lead. After stretching their advantage to 5-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the second, the Terriers used strong defense in the later innings, turning double plays in the seventh and eighth frames, and throwing out a runner at the plate to end the eighth, to maintain their advantage.
Matt Klinker (5-6) absorbed the loss after working 5 2/3 innings. The senior right-hander gave up five runs, only three of which were earned, on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
The Terriers and Paladin collected eight hits apiece, with Waring pacing Wofford and Jay Jackson leading Furman with a 3-for-4 performance.
Wofford jumped on Klinker and Furman for three runs in the first inning. Michael Gilmartin led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice. After a Shane Kirkley single put runners at first and third, Waring drilled a triple off the center field wall to score Gilmartin and Kirkley. John Brandt finished off the outburst with an RBI single to plate Waring for a 3-0 lead.
The Terriers stretched their advantage to 5-0 in the second inning with a pair of unearned runs. With one out Keith Munns was hit by a pitch and moved to second with two outs when Jackson dropped a fly ball in left field off Gilmartin's bat. Bradford Eaves followed with an RBI single to center field, and Gilmartin later scored on a wild pitch.
Austin shackled Furman's bats until the seventh when, with one out, Jackson, Tony Maccani, and Will Stembridge delivered consecutive singles to load the bases. Paul Ortenzo then worked a walk to plate Jackson, but Austin recovered by getting Spence Gibbs to gound into an inning ending double play.
In the eighth Austin issued a leadoff walk to Joey Rodgers before being relieved by Michael Gilmartin, who promptly induced Connor Lind to hit into a double play. Marcus Rose kept the frame alive for Furman after getting hit by a pitch and coming around to score on Bobby Hubbard's double to center field. Jackson followed with an run-scoring double but was thrown out at home plate by Wofford right fielder Sterling Dye while attempting to score on Tony Maccani's single.
Gilmartin worked a perfect ninth to nail down the victory.
