May 22, 2009

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman reliever Bobby Lyne pitched four innings of shutout relief as the No. 8 seed Paladins knocked off the No. 5 seed College of Charleston Cougars, 6-5, in an elimination game at the 2009 Southern Conference Baseball Championship at Fluor Field.

With the win, Furman (23-30) advances to face Western Carolina at 7 p.m. Frirday. With the loss, College of Charleston falls to 35-22.

Lyne (2-3) came into the game with no outs and the bases loaded in the top of the fifth with the Cougars having already scored four runs to tie the game at 5-5. The freshman forced a fly out before striking out Matt Mansilla. After Cole Rakar singled to right field, Joash Brodin was thrown out at home by Will Miller to end the threat.

Lyne allowed only one hit while striking out three and walking one to earn the win. CofC pitcher Curtis Dowling (1-2) suffered the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run, which was unearned, in the bottom of the fifth.

Furman scored what proved to be the winning run after Rose led off with a bunt single, advanced to third on a pair of ground outs, and scored scored on a passed ball.

Leading the way for the Paladins was Rose, who was 2-for-4 with and a home run and two RBIs. In a losing effort, Cougars' designated hitter Ryan Daniels was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Furman opened up the scoring in the third inning with a Will Miller home run over the "Green Monster" in left field. Later in the inning, Rose duplicated Miller's feat by sending a shot over the 30 foot-high wall, plating two runs, to make it 3-0.

College of Charleston produced one run in the top of the fourth when Daniels singled to right field, scoring Brandon Sizemore.

The Paladins, however, answered by plating two more runs in fourth on RBI doubles by Campbell Lewis and J.B. Jenkins.

Nick Karow retired the Cougars in order in the ninth to earn the save, his fourth of the season.

The win was Furman's first at Fluor Field in nine attempts.