Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- The College of Charleston swept Furman in a Southern Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at the Ballpark at Patriots Point, posting a 10-6 victory in the opener and a 9-6 win in game two of the twinbill.
The sweep improves the College of Charleston to 26-15 overall and 10-7 in SoCon play while Furman falls to 19-22 overall and 9-10 in league action.
In game one Matt Leeds doubled twice and drove in three runs as part of a 3-for-5 performance to propel the Cougars to the decision. His RBI double in the fifth inning, followed by a two-run double by Daniel Aldrich, keyed a four-run CofC frame that gave the Cougars a 9-4 lead.
The College of Charleston banged out 15 hits in the opener, with Jose Rodriquez matching Leeds with three hits, including a double and an RBI. Marty Gantt registered two safeties and scored three runs in the victory, and Cole Rakar went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The solid run support made a winner of Josh Renfro (6-2), who pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs. He walked three and struck out five.
J.B. Jenkins had three of Furman's nine hits, including a single in the fourth, a triple in the sixth, and a home run, his first of the season, in the ninth. Aaron Thompkins and Taylor Johnson both collected two hits and drove in two runs apiece.
Furman led 4-3 midway through the third inning before Rodriquez doubled to lead off the CofC third and later scored on Jamie Holler's RBI single. Rakar put the Cougars up 5-4 with a sacrifice fly that plated Rob Harding.
CofC took control on the contest in the fifth, scoring four runs — all after two outs and the bases empty. — on RBI doubles by Rakar and Leeds, and two-run double by Aldrich down the right field line off Paladin reliever Stephen Gary, who failed to record an out after coming for Paladin starter Bobby Lyne.
Lyne (2-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six.
In game two Furman led 6-4 midway through the sixth inning before College of Charleston cut it 6-5 in the bottom of the frame and tallied four runs in the seventh en route to the 9-6 win.
Run-scoring singles by Thompkins and Reese Wade in the fifth highlighted a three-run Furman rally that helped the Paladins erase a 4-1 deficit. The Paladins tallied two more in the sixth on an RBI double by Jenkins, who later came home on a wild pitch to make it 6-4.
The College of Charleston responded with a Leeds solo home run, his second of the game, in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-5. The Cougars plated four more in the seventh, keyed by Rob Kral's three-run double off Furman reliever and losing pitcher Drake Browne (2-2), who was roughed up for three runs on three hits while also walking two and hitting a batter in the decisive seventh.
CofC forged a 10-8 hit advantage in the second game, with Leeds and Aldrich both registered three hits and three RBI. Will Owens, Jenkins, and Wade led Furman's attack with two hits each.
The win went to Casey Lucchese (2-0), who threw shutout ball over the final 2 1/3 innings.
Sunday's series finale is set for 1:00 p.m.
Pictured: J.B. Jenkins doubled, tripled, and homered and had five hits in Furman's Saturday doubleheader against the College of Charleston.
