ELON, N.C. -- Bobby Lyne surrendered just two hits over eight innings and Dylan Cole struck out the side in the ninth to give Furman a 3-0 shutout victory over Southern Conference frontrunner Elon Wednesday evening in the opening game of a three-game league series at Latham Park.
The win was the third straight for Furman (23-29, 13-14 SoCon), which moved into a sixth place tie with Appalachian State in the SoCon standings, while the loss halted a seven-game league winning streak for Elon (34-19, 21-7 SoCon).
Lyne (3-4), who pitched effectively but did not get a decision in Furman's marathon 16-inning contest last Friday against Western Carolina, returned to the bump on just four days rest to handcuff the Phoenix, allowing just two singles and walk while recording three strikeouts.
A pair of singles by Garrett Koster were the only hits allowed by Lyne, who worked out of the only jam he faced in the eighth when he hit Grant McCoury with one out and surrendered a single to Koster. After both players advanced on a wild pitch, Lyne fielded a ground ball off the bat of Harry Austin and retired McCoury at home for the second out. He then got Niko Fraser on a ground out to end the inning.
Cole came on in the ninth and struck out Jake Luce, Sebastian Gomez, and Neal Pritchard to preserve the win and notch his 10th save of the season.
Led by Aaron Thompkins' 2-for-4 performance, which extended to eight his string of multi-hit games, Furman collected eight hits in the contest.
As it turned out the Paladins would get all the runs they would need in the second inning after Paul Nitto and Will Muzika led off with back-to-back singles and later scored on a Will Miller double and sacrifice fly by Alex Abrams.
The Paladins, who stranded 10 runners in the contest, ran themselves out the fourth inning despite collecting a hit batsman, a stolen base, two walks, and an Elon throwing error. Muzika led off the frame and stole second but was thrown out while attempting to swipe third on Will Miller's swinging strikeout. Alex Abrams and J.B. Jenkins followed with back-to-back walks, but Abrams was gunned out at the plate after Elon catcher Ryan Kinsella's failed pickoff throw sailed into right field where Niko Fraser returned the errant throw in time to retire Abrams at the dish to end the inning.
Furman added an insurance run in the seventh after Abrams delivered a one-out single and later scored on a wild pitch.
Thomas Girdwood (4-5) was charged with the loss after working seven innings and allowing six hits, three runs, two of which were earned, and three walks. He fanned seven.
Game two is set for 6:30 Thursday.
