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Charleston Rallies Past Furman For Series Sweep, 7-6
April 15, 2007
Greenville, S.C. - College of Charleston rallied from a 5-2 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning to down Furman 7-6 and complete the sweep of this weekend's three-game Southern Conference series Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Trailing 5-3 entering the fifth, the Cougars loaded the bases with no one out on a walk, error and single. Terri Mesko pulled the Cougars within one with an RBI single to left-center and Kolby Schooley drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game at 5-5. Following a pitching change, Brittany Small greeted reliever Blake Murray with a two-run single to center to give Charleston a 7-5 lead. Murray got a fielder's choice and double play to and the inning.
Furman (14-24-1, 4-8 SoCon) trimmed the lead to one in the fifth on Lana Mackey's two-out, RBI double to left-center, but Mesko held the Lady Paladins hitless the rest of the way to secure the victory.
CofC (25-17, 9-3 SoCon) took a 1-0 second inning lead on Mesko's solo homer down the left field line. Megan Jaudon tied the game scoring on an error in the bottom half of the inning before Jennifer Golden's RBI single restored Charleston's one run lead in the top of the third.
Furman appeared to take control in the bottom of the frame. Abby Robertson reached on a fielding error with one out and Stephanie Cushing followed with a single to center. After a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, Jaudon reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Robertson to score on a late throw to the plate. Brythe Blankenship popped up for the second out of the inning, but Mackey gave Furman the lead with a two-out, three-run home run over the left field wall.
The College of Charleston drew a bases loaded walk in the fourth to force in a run and cut the margin to 5-3 before its four-run rally in the fifth.
Mesko earned the win to improve to 13-7. She allowed just one earned run on four hits in seven innings while fanning four. The pitcher also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored.
Reliever Vanessa Williams took the loss for Furman to drop to 1-2. Williams allowed five runs on just two hits and six walks in one-plus innings of work. Mackey finished 2-for-4 with four RBI for the Lady Paladins.
Furman returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Georgia for a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
