GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Ryan McNally stroked a two-out, bases clearing double in the eighth inning to rally Fordham past Furman, 5-2, in the 2016 baseball season opener for both teams Friday afternoon in the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field.

Trailing 2-0 and limited to just one hit over the first seven innings, Fordham took advantage of a fielding error, a hit batsman, and a walk to load the bases with one out in the eighth inning.  Paladin freshman Rollin Layton reliever struck out the Rams' Joseph DeVito for the second out and quickly got ahead of McNally with two strikes, but the senior rallied to run the count full before steering a Layton offering down the third base line into the corner to clear the bases and give Fordham a 3-2 lead.

McNally then stole third and came home on a throwing error to make it 4-2.  The Rams tacked on a fifth unearned run in the frame on Matthew Kozuch's RBI triple.

Forham's big inning spoiled a brilliant starting pitching effort by Furman's Will Gaddis, who allowed one hit over six innings.  The sophomore right-hander, who retired the first 13 batters he faced, threw 76 pitches, struck out eight, and did not walk a batter.

Furman managed only three hits but gave Gaddis two runs of support in the sixth.  Cameron Whitehead, who reached base three times, drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a wild pitch by Fordham reliever Ben Greenberg.  The Paladins made it 2-0 on a Jordan Simpson RBI single that plated Brandon Elmy.

Steven Fondu got the Paladins out of jam in the seventh, stranding a pair of inherited runners with a fly ball and strikeout.

Fordham cashed in in its next at bat, set up by leadoff batter Ian Edmiston's ground ball that was misplayed at third base by Simpson.  Paladin reliever Harry Norman struck out the first batter he faced but then hit the Rams' Jams Lundy and walked Justin Bardwell to load the bases.

Greenberg (1-0) picked up the win after working the final 3 2/3 innings.  He was not charged with a run and yielded two hits and a pair of walks while striking out two.  Fordham pitchers pitched around seven walks.

Norman (0-1) was charged with the loss.

The Rams ended the game with five hits while the Paladins managed only three.

Furman plays Michigan State at noon Saturday at Fluor Field.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information