Furman vs. South Carolina Game Notes (PDF)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's baseball team opens a challenging stretch of six games in eight days tonight when it plays host to South Carolina in a 7:00 p.m. game at Fluor Field.

The contest will be video live streamed via the SoCon Digital Network, and "The Voice of the Paladins" Dan Scott's play-by-play audio stream will be presented through FurmanPaladins.com.  Fans can also follow the action thru StatBroadcast live stats and via twitter @FurmanBaseball

Furman (18-20), which swept Western Carolina in a Saturday doubleheader to claim its second straight weekend series, is expected to start sophomore right-hander Matthew Quarles (3-1, 6.15 ERA) against South Carolina (21-15), which is coming off a home series win over fourth-ranked Vanderbilt.  The Gamecocks trimmed the Paladins, 5-2, in the season's first meeting in Columbia on Feb. 17 and lead the all-time series, 111-56-2, that dates from 1896.

Furman and South Carolina have played annually at Fluor Field since the facility opened in 2006, except for 2007.  The Gamecocks downed the Paladins, 9-2 last year, avenging a 6-5 Furman victory in 2013.

The Paladins are in the midst of a 13-game stretch that features only two home games.  Furman will play at Charleston Southern on Wednesday and open a three-game series at former SoCon rival and 20th-ranked College of Charleston (Apr. 24-26) before concluding the stretch next Tuesday at Winthrop.

Tonight's game will mark the fifth of six Furman contests this season at Fluor Field, where the Paladins have posted a 2-2 record with wins over Michigan State (11-9) and USC Upstate (8-2), and losses to Presbyterian (12-3) and Connecticut (12-1).  Furman will wrap up its 2015 Fluor Field slate against Clemson (May 12).

Head coach Ron Smith's squad is paced at the plate by freshman designated hitter Blake Chisolm (.379, 1 HR, 23 RBI), senior right fielder Jake Jones (.341, 2 HR, 15 RBI), and junior second baseman Jordan Simpson (.336, 10 HR, 35 RBI).  

Senior All-SoCon third baseman Chris Ohmstede (.333, 8 HR, 40 RBI) recently became Furman's career home runs leader (38) and has hit at a .463 clip (19-of-41) with four home runs and 18 RBI over the last 10 games.

Another Paladin on a tear lately is sophomore outfielder Carter Grote (.306, 1 HR, 9 RBI), who since moving into the leadoff role on Apr. 4 has batted .382 (13-for-34) with 12 walks, 15 runs, and a .571 on base percentage in the last 10 games.

Following tonight's game Furman players and coaches will gather on top of the dugout to have their heads shaved in an effort to raise awareness and funds in support of the Vs. Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving kids' lives by empowering athletes and communities to fund lifesaving childhood cancer efforts.

As of this morning Furman has topped its team goal of $10,000 by raising $16,673, ranking the Paladins third of 65 participating teams nationwide.  Last year Furman paced the country in funds raised in the battle vs. childhood cancer.

The Vs. Cancer Foundation is committed to helping children fighting cancer NOW as well as raising funds to continue the necessary research and help create a positive outcome for future cancer patients. Half of all proceeds raised from a Vs. Cancer head-shaving event will go to a local childhood cancer hospital and the remaining monies will fund research at the national level.

Donations to the Paladins' fund-raising effort in support of the Vs. Cancer Foundation can be made through Furman's Vs. Cancer Page

Fans can follow @FurmanBaseball and @Vs_Cancer via twitter for updates on fundraising efforts.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information