GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Paul Nitto delivered a bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a three-run rally and give Furman a 3-2 victory over Appalachian State in the opening game of three-game Southern Conference series Friday evening at Latham Stadium.

The win was the third straight for Furman (16-15, 7-5 SoCon) and sixth SoCon triumph in the last seven league games for the Paladins.

Appalachian State (16-15, 4-9 SoCon) had its three-game league winning streak halted with the loss.

Furman, which trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, greeted Appalachian State closer Taylor Miller with back to back singles by Aaron Thompkins and Reese Wade.  Miller then hit Furman's Will Miller to load the bases, and Alex Abrams followed with a two-run single to left center field to drive home Thompkins and pinch runner Heath Burton to tie the game at 2-2.

Miller then intentionally walked Will Muzika to again load the bases with no outs, and Nitto leveled off on a two-ball, two-strike offering from Miller into right center field to drive home Will Miller for the game winner.

Furman's ninth inning rally earned the victory for Drake Browne (1-1), who came on in the seventh to get the final out before pitching a scoreless eighth.

Miller (1-1) took the loss after allowing the three runs in the ninth on four hits.  He did not record an out.

The contest proved to be a pitchers' duel with Furman's Bobby Lyne and Appalachian State's Ryan Arrowood throwing shutout ball for the first seven innings.

Arrowood, who scattered five hits and struck out nine over 6 2/3 innings, loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs before rallying to strike out the side.  The junior right-hander stymied Furman again an inning later after the Paladins used an error, a double, and walk to juice the bases with one out, only to have Arrowood fan Muzika and Nitto to end the threat.

Lyne worked 7 2/3 innings before finally yielding a pair of two-out runs in the eighth.  Lawrence Pardo got ASU going with a 12-pitch at bat before drawing a base on balls, halting a string of 12 consecutive batters retired by Lyne.  Hector Crespo followed with a single to put runners at first and third, and Trey Holmes broke the scoreless tie with a solid single up the middle to plate pinch runner Will Callaway for a 1-0 lead.  Crespo came home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

The Paladins, who stranded 13 runners over the first eight innings, out-hit Appalachian State 11-5 and played errorless ball.

Owens, Thompkins, Muzika, and Fondu paced Furmanwith two hits apiece.

Crespo had two of ASU's fived hits.

Saturday's game is set for 4:00 p.m.

Pictured:  Alex Abrams