SHELBY, N.C. -- Jabari Richards hit for the cycle, highlighted by a grand slam, and drove in five runs to help power Furman to an 18-3 victory over Gardner-Webb in baseball action Wednesday evening at Keeter Stadium.

Richards, a senior outfielder, doubled in the first inning, tripled in the sixth, cranked a grand slam in the seventh, and led off the ninth with a single to complete the cycle, the first by a Paladin since Case Cassedy accomplished the feat versus Appalachian State in 2006.

The Fayetteville, Ga., product, who also walked in the second inning and had a sacrifice bunt in the fourth, finished the game going 4-for-4 with five RBI and four runs scored.  His offensive showcase against Gardner-Webb came one night after he went 4-for-6, homered twice, and drove in five runs in the Paladins' 14-5 pasting of Winthrop.

Richards had plenty of company in the run production parade.  John Michael Boswell went 3-for-6 with a double, home run, and five RBI, and Dax Roper registered a 4-for-5 performance, replete with two doubles, a home run, and four runs.  Logan Taplett went 3-for-4 with a double and scored three runs.

Furman's 18 runs and 23 hits represented new season highs.  Every Paladin in the starting lineup scratched in the hit column.

For good measure, the Paladins (7-16) turned an equally rare triple play in the second inning, the program's first since  2001.

As it turned out Furman got all the runs it would need in the second inning, plating six runs on five hits, including a bases clearing, three-run double by Boswell that helped the Paladins take a 6-2 lead.

Roper's two-run jack in the sixth, his second in successive nights, gave the Paladins a 9-3 lead, and an inning later Richards cranked his grand slam over the right field fence to make it 13-3.

Boswell completed the power show with a two-run blast in the ninth, tying Roper for the team lead in home runs with five.

Matt Lazzaro (1-3) earned the victory in relief, allowing a run one hit over three innings.  He walked two and struck out four.

Paladin starter Nik Verbeke worked four innings, allowing two unearned runs in the first inning before departing with a 6-2 lead.

Furman returns to Latham Stadium for the first time since Mar. 11 — a span of 10 games — this weekend to take on The Citadel in Southern Conference action.  First pitch for Friday's series opener is set for 6:00 p.m.

Hunter Reid, Sports Information