April 26, 2015

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- The College of Charleston took advantage of weak defense and poor base running by Furman to claim to a 7-6 victory and complete a three-game series sweep of the Paladins in Sunday afternoon baseball action at Patriots Point.

The 20th-ranked Cougars (32-9) spotted the Paladins (19-24) a 2-0 first inning lead following a Griffin Davis two-run home run before tying it with a pair of runs in the second inning. 

With two outs and runners at second and third base, Erven Roper hit a ground ball that second baseman Jordan Simpson appeared to be in position to field, but first baseman Brandon Elmy, ranging far to his right, had the ball deflect off his glove and into right field, allowing two runs to score.

Chris Ohmstede's home run off College of Charleston starting pitcher Wade Arduini to start the fourth inning gave Furman a 3-2 lead, but the Cougars' Nick Pappas answered in the same fashion with a long ball off Paladin starter Will Gaddis to open the bottom of the fourth.

Pappas' clout was followed by two more runs set up by a pair of Paladin errors.  A wild throw by shortstop Sims Griffith on Morgan Phillips' ground ball set the stage, and after the Paladins failed to turn a double play, the Cougars executed a double steal, with Phillips racing home on a slow return throw from second base.  The inning continued with a walk, a wild pitch, and another Furman throwing error that allowed CofC to take a 5-3 lead.

The Cougars made it 6-3 in seventh, scoring another unearned run on a Paladin throwing error. 

Furman cut it 6-5 in the eighth after Davis led of with a single and came around to score on Jordan Simpson's two-run home run to left field, his team leading 11th round tripper of the season.

The College of Charleston manufactured what proved to be the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth, getting a leadoff single from Roper, who advanced to second on a wild pitch, and on to third on a sacrifice before scoring on a sacrifice fly.

The Paladins battled back in their last at bat against Cougar reliever Nathan Helvey with pinch hitter Landon Kay reaching on a one-out throwing error and moving to second on a walk to Carter Grote.  Sims Griffith singled home Kay to make it 7-6 but was thrown out after taking a wide turn at first base.  With two outs and a Kay at third, Cameron Whitehead was retired on a fly ball to end the game.

In addition to the three errors that led to three unearned runs by CofC and the key baserunning mistake in the ninth inning, the Paladins suffered a pickoff in the third and had a player thrown out at the plate following a leadoff double in the seventh.

Jordan Simpson led Furman offensively, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and a run. Sims Griffith also had three hits, and Davis finished with a 2-for-4 outing that included his third home run of the season, two RBI, and two runs.  Chris Ohmstede's home run extended his school career standard to 39, and Brandon Elmy doubled twice for the Paladins, who out-hit College of Charleston, 13-11.

Roper went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs to pace the Cougars.

Arduini (1-1) was credited win despite working just four innings and allowing three runs on six hits.  He struck out two.  Helvey was credited with the save, his third of the season.

The loss was charged to Gaddis (3-4), who worked six innings and allowed nine hits, five runs, only three of which were earned.  He walked three and struck out four.