Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
Greenville, S.C. -- Furman belted five home runs on the opening day of the USC Upstate/Furman Softball Classic en route to an 11-6 win over Georgetown and 3-2, walk-off victory versus Colgate in nine innings on Friday at Pepsi Stadium.
Furman 11, Georgetown 6
In the home opener, senior Kalie Hicks highlighted a seven-run first inning with a grand slam and belted a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth to propel the Paladins past Georgetown for their first victory of the season.
Hicks, who earned the start at third base, batted in a school record-tying six runs, while fellow senior Elise Smith homered and drove in three runs to key the Paladins' 11-run outburst. Casey Bigham, Lindsey Bert and AnnaRose Borrelli each notched two hits in the victory.
Bert earned the start in the circle and gave up three runs, two unearned, in the top of the second inning, but Smith came on to toss four innings of solid relief to earn the win. Smith (1-0) allowed just three hits and one run over four innings, while walking two batters and recording one strikeout.
Starter Katie Vannicola (0-4) took the loss for Georgetown (0-7), allowing 10 runs on nine hits and three walks over four innings of work. Gabriela Elvina doubled, walked twice and scored three runs for the Hoyas.
Furman 3, Colgate 2
In the nightcap, Colgate jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the fifth before Furman used the long ball to force extra innings and claim a walk-off win in the ninth.
Pami White ripped a homer off of the left field foul pole to put the Raiders in front in the top of the fifth and Jordan Miller's double plated Tara Grennan after she had reached base on a wild pitch following a strikeout.
Down to their final two outs in the seventh, Furman got on the board with Borrelli's solo shot to left field off Colgate starter Gillian Murray. After Murray fanned Hicks for the second out, Furman pitcher Emily Demonte kept her team alive by belting her first career homer, a solo shot, to straightaway center field.
The game remained knotted at 2-2 into the ninth inning. Colgate put runners on the corners with two outs, courtesy of a Lauren La Terra double and White single, but Brittany Houston fielded a two-out grounder and threw out Grennan to keep the Raiders off the board.
In the bottom of the ninth, Hicks drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Caroline Nageotte beat a throw to third base when Demonte singled on a soft line drive down the left field line. Houston followed with a walk-off single up the middle to give Furman (2-5) the sweep on opening day at Pepsi Stadium.
Lauren Duggar went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Paladins, while Demonte collected two hits and improved to 1-2 in the circle by holding Colgate to just two runs on five its over nine innings. Demonte fanned six batters and issued just one base on balls.
Reliever Brittany Bendel (0-1), who allowed a run on four hits in 1.1 innings in the circle, took the loss for the Raiders (1-1).
In the first game of the day, Colgate picked up ist first win of the season by downing Georgetown, 9-3.
Tournament action continues tomorrow with four games at Pepsi Stadium. Furman will host Campbell at 1 p.m. before entertaining the Presbyterian Blue Hose at 5 p.m.
Log onto FurmanPaladins.com for live stat links and video streaming links for all of Furman's games this weekend. Admission to Pepsi Stadium is free for all home games.
USC Upstate/Furman Classic (@ Pepsi Stadium)
Friday
12:00 - Colgate 9, Georgetown 3
2:00 - Furman 11, Georgetown 6
4:00 - Furman 3, Colgate 2 (9 inn.)
Saturday
11:00 - Iona vs. Campbell
1:00 - Furman vs. Campbell
3:00 - Presbyterian vs. Iona
5:00 - Presbyterian vs. Furman
Sunday
11:00 - Towson vs. Campbell
1:00 - Towson vs. Furman
Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information
