Greenville, S.C. -- Furman plated eight runs in the first inning and starting pitcher Lindsey Bert tossed a two-hit shutout as the Paladins claimed a 12-0 victory over Towson in five innings Sunday at the USC Upstate/Furman Softball Classic at Pepsi Stadium.

The Paladins, who improved to 4-6 on the season, sent 13 batters to the plate in the opening frame and scored eight runs on seven hits and two Tiger errors. AnnaRose Borrelli opened the scoring with an RBI double before Hannah Reynolds, Taylor Vahle and Emma Ogburn followed with run scoring singles. Sophomore Sarah Windham looped a two-run single down the left field line and Furman loaded the bases once again on a Towson error. Bert reached on a two-out fielding error to force in another run and Borrelli drove in her second run of the frame with a single to center field.

Three consecutive two-out singles in the bottom of the fourth loaded the bases for the Paladins, and a Towson error on Courtney Jacobs grounder to second base allowed two more runs to score. Bert followed with a two-run double to center field to cap the 12-run outburst.

With the run support she needed, Bert (2-3) cruised through five innings, allowing just two hits and fanning six Towson hitters for her first shutout of 2017. She went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and base on balls.

Cash, Borrelli and Ogburn each collected a pair of hits for the Paladins, while Windham went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

Starter Megan Dejter (1-3) took the loss for Towson (4-5). She surrendered 12 runs, six earned, on 13 hits in 3.2 innings of work.

The Paladins return to action on Wednesday when they host USC Upstate in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Pepsi Stadium.

Log onto FurmanPaladins.com for live stat links and video streaming links for Wednesday's games. 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 - Campbell 2, Iona 0
1:00 - Furman 5, Campbell 3
3:00 - Iona 5, Presbyterian 3
5:00 - Presbyterian 5, Furman 4
Sunday
11:00 - Campbell 4, Towson 3
1:00 - Furman 12, Towson 0



Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information