GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Twenty two home games among Furman's first 25 contests and annual clashes against both South Carolina and Clemson at Fluor Field in downtown Greenville highlight the Paladins' 55-game 2020 baseball schedule, which was released today by head coach Brett Harker.

The 22 home games over the first month of the season are part of a 34-game home slate for the Paladins, who all told will play 42 games in the Palmetto State in 2020.

Furman opens the season with a three-game series against LaSalle (Feb. 14-16) at Latham Stadium.  After short road trips to face USC Upstate (Feb. 18) and Clemson (Feb. 19), the Paladins return home to play 19 of their next 20 games, including a Mar. 1 contest versus South Carolina at Fluor Field.  The lone road game in that stretch is matchup at Presbyterian (Feb. 25).

The Paladins begin Southern Conference play at home against defending regular season champion Samford (Mar. 20-22) and play their first road league series at reigning SoCon Tournament champion Mercer (Apr. 3-5).

Clemson pays its annual visit to Fluor Field on Apr. 14.

In addition to Samford, Furman's other home SoCon series' include matchups against Wofford (Apr. 9-11), Western Carolina (Apr. 17-19), and UNC Greensboro (May 8-10).  The Paladins road league slate features series at Mercer, East Tennessee State (Apr. 24-26), VMI (May 1-3), and The Citadel (May 14-16).

Home and away non-conference matchups against South Carolina, Clemson, USC Upstate, Presbyterian, Winthrop, and Garnder-Webb dot the Paladins' 2020 schedule.

The 2020 SoCon Tournament (May 18-24) is set to return to Greenville and Fluor Field.

Furman posted a 26-31 overall record and 13-11 SoCon mark a year ago under Harker, who is entering his fourth season as mentor.

The Paladins return two of their three staring weekend pitchers in junior left-handers John Michael Bertrand (4-6, 4.90 ERA) and Matt Lazzaro (1-6, 7.36 ERA), and a number of other established hurlers, including senior left-hander Hank Nichols (2-0, 4.55 ERA),  junior right-hander Jordan Beatson (4-1, 5.71 ERA), and sophomore right-handers Rob Hughes (5-2, 4.43) and Mason Kenney (2-1, 4.80 ERA).

Five position starters are back, led by junior outfielder David Webel (.288, 1 HR, 21 RBI), senior catcher Dax Roper (.278, 9 HR, 33 RBI), senior third baseman Logan Taplett (.269, 6 HR. 39 RBI), junior outfielder Sterling Turmon (.270, 10 HR, 26 RBI), and sophomore second baseman Banks Griffith (.228, 2 HR, 24 RBI).

The return of redshirt senior third baseman Jake Crawford (.276, 5 HR, 24 RBI), who missed the 2019 campaign following Tommy John surgery, should bolster the Paladin lineup this spring.