CHARLESTON, S.C. --Chris Graham's two-run, eighth inning single broke open a tie game and lifted the College of Charleston to a 3-1 victory over Furman in Sunday afternoon baseball action at The Ballpark at Patriots Point.

The victory gave the College of Charleston (13-6) the three-game series sweep of Furman (5-12).

With the score tied 1-1, Jared Kirven opened the bottom of the eighth with a walk, and Luke Manzo was hit by pitch by Paladin starter David Dunlavey.  Following a ground out that moved Manzo and Kirven to second and third base, respectively, Graham sent the first pitch he saw from Dunlavey back through the middle of a drawn in Paladin infield to drive home both runners and give the Cougars the 3-1 lead.

CofC turned the advantage over to Nathan Ocker in the ninth, and he pitched around a two-out error to close out the game and notch his second save of the series.

Brooks Lucas (1-0) earned the victory after coming on in the third inning in relief of starter Noah Hinzman.  He yielded a bunt single to the first batter he faced, Jabari Richards, but then proceeded to check the Paladins over the next six innings, walking one and hitting another while striking out seven.

The two-run eighth spoiled a strong outing by Dunlavey (1-4), who limited the Cougars to just a run on four hits thru the first seven frames.  The redshirt junior right-hander finished the contest allowing three runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings — his longest outing of the season.  He walked one and struck out one.

For the second straight game Furman failed to capitalize on early game opportunities.  In the first inning John Michael Boswell served an RBI single into center field to give the Paladins a 1-0 lead.  Logan Taplett followed with a soft single behind first base, but Boswell was thrown out easily trying to go from first to third base on the play.

In the third, with the score tied 1-1, the Paladins loaded the bases with no outs but could not convert as Anthony Fontana was retired on an infield pop, Boswell struck out, and Logan Taplett flew out to right field.

The College of Charleston had five hits in the contest, and Furman registered three.

The Paladins return home to face South Carolina on Tuesday at Fluor Field.  First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.