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Furman Takes Downs Top-Seeded, 20th-Ranked College Of Charleston 9-7
May 25, 2005
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Matthew Betsill hit a game-winning triple in the sixth inning to lead eighth-seeded Furman to a 9-7 upset of top-seeded and nationally 20th-ranked College of Charleston in the first round of the 2005 Southern Conference Baseball Championship in Charleston, S.C.
The Paladins improve to 27-27 while the Cougars fall to 44-12. The victory marks Furman's fourth triumph over a nationally-ranked team this year.
"I thought our guys showed a lot of resolve, hung in there, and made some big plays late to win the game," said Furman head coach Ron Smith. "Our bullpen work from Ryan Hudson, Matt Klinker, and Nick Hollstegge, really kept us in the game until our offense came through. It's a big win over a very fine Charleston team."
The Cougars took an early 2-0 lead in the second as Chris Campbell blasted a two-run double to the gap in right-center. Paladin second baseman Joe Daysh cut the lead in half with a RBI-single in the second, but the Cougars answered back with an RBI-single by Brett Gardner to make it 3-1.
College of Charleston took a commanding four run lead in the third. D.J. Wabick smacked a double down the left field line to plate Byron Barber as a sac fly off the bat of Brett Anderson pushed Campbell across the dish. Brian Hastings then dropped a RBI-single into left to put the Cougars up 6-2.
Furman rallied in the fourth for three runs. Daysh and Nick Wajda scored on a RBI-single off the bat of Ben Terry. Terry then trotted home on a hit to the gap in left by Case Cassedy. The Paladins scored another in the fifth on a RBI-groundout by Wajda to knot the game 6-6.
Oliver Marmol poked an RBI-single into right to give the advantage back to the Cougars in the fifth inning, 7-6, before the Paladins opened up the sixth inning with a single from Greene. After Greene stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Cougar catcher, McLain tallied the game tying RBI single. Betsill then tripled down the right field line, scoring McLain, and giving Furman an 8-7 lead. Daysh added an insurance run in the seventh inning when he stole home after singling to reach base.
Betsill went 4-for-5 with an RBI, a double, and a triple for the Paladins with Daysh also going 4-for-5 with an RBI. Cassedy added two RBI on 3-for-5 hitting for Furman. Charleston was led by Campbell who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a double. Brett Gardner added an RBI on 4-of-5 hitting.
Furman pounded out 17 hits in the contest.
Ryan Hudson picked up the win for Furman, improving his record to 4-3, with Nick Hollstegge picking up his fourth save of the season for the Paladins. Shawn Williams took the loss for the Cougars, dropping to 1-1 on the season.
The CofC loss also marked the second straight year the first seeded Cougars have fallen in the opening round of the tournament.
Furman will take on Elon at 4:00 on Thursday with College of Charleston playing UNC Greensboro at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday in the first elimination game.
