Atlanta, Ga. – Freshman Riley Ludlam slammed two home runs and Amanda Fleming and Natalie Morgan registered three hits apiece as Furman rolled to a 10-2, five-inning victory over Ohio in the Paladins' season opener Saturday afternoon at Georgia Tech's Buzz Classic in Atlanta, Ga.
 
Ludlam, in her first career at bat, hammered a three-run blast to left field in the first inning to stake the Paladins to a 3-0 lead. After Ohio got on the board with a two-run homer by Sophia Bernard in the top of the second, Furman's Natalie Morgan delivered a solo blast to the opposite field to extend the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the frame.
 
Savannah Hughes opened a four-run fourth inning by walking and scoring on an error following Morgan Smith's single. Morgan doubled to center field to plate Smith and Amanda Fleming followed a Caroline Nageotte walk with a two-run triple that highlighted her three-hit performance.
 
Ludlam belted a solo homer to left-center in the bottom of the fifth and Morgan ended the game by run rule by driving in Smith with a single up the middle for her third hit of the game.
 
Smith (1-0) picked up the win in the circle, allowing just two runs on six hits over five innings of work, while also collecting two hits at the plate. Madi McCrady (0-1) surrendered six runs on six hits in three and one-third innings of work to take the loss for the Bobcats.
 
Furman's nightcap versus Georgia Tech was cancelled after inclement weather pushed the start of the season opener from 10 a.m. back to 1 p.m. The Paladins will return to action on Sunday with a 3:30 p.m. matchup against UAB before facing top-ranked Washington in the Buzz Classic finale at 6 p.m.
 
Fans can follow live statistics of Sunday's games thru StatBroadcast at FurmanPaladins.com.
 
 
Buzz Classic (Shirley Clements Mewborn Field/Atlanta, Ga.)
Sunday
3:30 p.m. vs. UAB Live Stats
6:00 p.m. vs. No. 1 Washington Live Stats