GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Jordan Simpson belted two home runs, including a two-out walk-off clout in the bottom of the 10th inning, to give Furman an 8-7 victory over Akron in Saturday afternoon baseball action at Latham Stadium.

The victory evens the three-game series at a game apiece heading into Sunday's 1:00 finale that will be video live streamed over the SoCon Digital Network and audio streamed via Stretch Internet, accessible through FurmanPaladins.com

Simpson, a junior second baseman, helped Furman (1-1) erase a 7-2 deficit with a two-run home run in five-run Paladin sixth inning that tied the contest at 7-7.

The Paladins failed to convert a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth after Sky Overton reached base on a swinging third strike passed ball and stole second.

Furman didn't miss its chance in the 10th, however, as Simpson worked the count full from Akron reliever Jon Pusateri before launching the solo clout over the left field fence for the game winner.

The Paladins' comeback was aided by solid relief pitching over the final four innings as Will Dvorak and Elliott Warford combined to hold Akron (1-1) scoreless on just two hits.  Warford (1-0), who worked the final three frames, surrendered only a one-out single in the ninth and pitched around an error in the 10th to earn the victory.  He struck out two.

The loss was charged to Pusateri (0-1).

Akron grabbed a 3-0 lead in the fourth off Paladin freshman starter Will Gaddis.  Dom Iero's leadoff home run down the right field line into the wind got the Zips on the board.  Brian Lees then singled with two outs and came around to score on a Paladin throwing error.  Matt Remielak's RBI single to right field made it 3-0.

Furman answered with two runs in the fifth on a Carter Grote RBI double that plated Simpson, and an Akron fielding error that allowed Grote to score.

Akron appeared ready to take command with a four-run sixth, highlighted by an Iero two-run single to center field off Paladin reliever Grant Schuermann and a Lees RBI single off Schuermann's replacement, Will Dvorak, that gave the Zips a 7-2 advantage.

With two outs in the sixth Furman began its comeback off Zips releiver Josh Lapiana with a Chris Ohmstede double and the first of two Simpson clouts to left field.  Carter Grote followed with a solo shot, also to left field, to make it a 7-5 game.  The Paladins continued the frame with an Andrew MacLatchie walk and bunt single by Overton that set the table for freshman Michael Campoamor's game-tying, two-run double to deep left center field.

Simpson went 2-for-3 in the game with three RBI and three runs scored.  Grote also went 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs while scoring twice.

The Paladins finished with nine hits.

Akron was paced at the plate by Iero, who went 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBI.  Daulton Mosbarger, Remielak, and Lees contributed two hits apiece for the Zips, who collected 13 hits.

The Zips stranded 14 base runners in the game, including 12 in the first six innings.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information