MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- Phillip Aldrich delivered a walkoff two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the College of Charleston a 13-12 victory over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at the Ballpark at Patriots Point.
Aldrich's game winning hit capped a five-run rally for the College of Charleston (27-15, 11-7 SoCon), which trailed 12-8 heading into its final at bat, and completed the three-game series sweep of Furman (19-23, 9-11 SoCon).
Paladin closer Dylan Cole, who came on in relief of Nate Smith in the eighth, opened the ninth by walking four consecutive batters to force in a run to make it 12-9. Marty Gantt then stroked an RBI single to cut the Furman lead to 12-10. After striking out Rob Kral for the first out of the inning, Cole got Matt Leeds on a pop up to short right field, but it was deep enough to score Jesse Mesa from third to slice the Paladin advantage to 12-11. Aldrich followed with a double down the right field line to drive home Gantt and Jamie Holler with the game winner.
Furman pitchers combined to surrender 13 hits and walk nine batters in the contest, including six in the final two innings, five of whom scored.
The Paladins led 10-5 after seven innings before the College of Charleston began its comeback with a three-run eighth, fueled by a pinch-hit leadoff home run by Kolby Epley and a two-run blast by Gantt.
Furman answered with two runs in the top of the ninth on RBI singles by Paul Nitto and Hunter Burton to take a 12-8 advantage.
Nitto homered and drove in four runs as part of a 3-for-5, two-run performance to pace the Paladins, who finished with 14 hits. Aaron Thompkins went 3-for-6 and also collected two RBI.
Aldrich and Gantt paced the Cougars at the plate with three hits apiece and three RBI. Rob Harding also drove in three runs for CofC.
Casey Lucchese (3-0) was the beneficiary of the Cougars' ninth-inning rally, earning the win after recording the final out of the eighth inning.
Cole (2-2), who entered the game having surrendered just seven walks in 26 2/3 innings this season, took the loss after yielding six runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings of work. He walked five and struck out one.
Furman plays at Clemson this Tuesday in a 6:30 p.m. game.
