Postgame Highlights And Interviews Video

Greensboro, N.C. – Third-seeded Furman overcame a 3-0 deficit to top No. 6 seed Western Carolina, 4-3, in the opening round of the 2014 Southern Conference Softball Championships on Wednesday afternoon at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.

With the come-from-behind win, the Paladins (29-24) advance to face No. 2 seed Chattanooga in the tournament's winner's bracket on Thursday at 2 p.m. The Mocs opened tournament play with a 3-0 victory over Appalachian State on Wednesday morning.  Western Carolina (18-33) will play an elimination game versus Appalachian State at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

"I'm proud of our team for coming back from down three," said head coach Kyle Jamieson.  "We didn't play our best game, but we were able to get the win and stay in the winner's bracket which is always important in tournament play."

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Furman's Elise Smith began the Paladin comeback with a single through the right side.  Two batters later, junior Ambree Muller laced a double into the right-center field gap to score pinch runner Stephanie Spain and cut the margin to 3-1.  After Natalie Clemmons was hit by a pitch and Lauren Collier fouled out to third base, Andrea Abbatiello looped a two-out, RBI double down the right field line to trim the deficit to 3-2 before Catamount starter Jordan Garrett retired the next batter to strand two Paladins in scoring position.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sieara Bishop singled up the middle to start another Furman rally and pinch runner Alexis Galinski moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.  With one out, Clemmons lined a game-tying double off of the right-center field fence to score Galinski.  Pinch hitter Sarah Eidt bounced a potential inning-ending grounder towards third base with two outs, but Kara Salvo's errant throw allowed the senior to reach safely as Clemmons came around to score from second to give Furman the 4-3 lead.

Collier, who improved to 18-11 in the circle, retired the top of the Catamount lineup in order in the top of the seventh inning to seal the victory.  She allowed just one earned run on five hits in a complete game effort while striking out two.

Western Carolina's Taylor Sigmon (2-3) suffered the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in two innings of relief.

The Catamounts took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning by pushing across a pair of runs on two infield hits, two hit batters and a Paladin error.  WCU added a third run on Amelia Griffin's two-out, RBI triple down the right field line that plated Amber Kimrey.

Fans can log onto www.FurmanPaladins.com for live stats throughout the double elimination SoCon Tournament.  Live streaming of each game is available for free at www.SoConSports.com.  In-game updates will be available on Twitter by following @FurmanSoftball.