Clinton, S.C. – Three Paladin pitchers combined to limit Presbyterian to just two runs on nine hits over 14 innings as Furman swept the Blue Hose 5-2, 2-0 in non-conference action at the PC Softball Complex in Clinton, S.C., on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Game 1: Furman 5, Presbyterian 2
 
Furman struck for five runs over the first three innings and freshman starter Shelby Basso tossed five effective innings to lead the Paladins to a 5-2 victory over Presbyterian in game one.
 
The first three batters of the game reached base for the Paladins, capped by Emily Bartlett's RBI single to plate Natalie Morgan. Two batters later, Mackense Greico continued her hot hitting with a two-run double into the gap to stake the Paladins to a 3-0 lead.
 
After Bartlett was hit by a pitch to open the top of the third inning, Riley Ludlam tripled off of the warning track in right-center field and raced home when PC's throw to the plate in an attempt to get Bartlett sailed to the backstop.
 
Basso (4-8) surrendered two solo home runs in the bottom of the inning, but retired seven of the final eight batters she faced before giving way to reliver Bailey Tanner. In two innings of work, Tanner allowed just one hit to earn her first of two saves on the day. Basso, who allowed two runs on four hits over five innings picked up the victory. 
 
Haley Haselden (7-9) absorbed the loss for PC allowing five runs on four hits over seven innings. She walked four batters and fanned six.
 
Game 2: Furman 2, Presbyterian 0
 
In game two, freshman Sierra Tufts and Tanner combined on a four-hit shutout to lead Furman to a 2-0 victory and doubleheader sweep.
 
Tufts (8-10) scattered four hits over six and one-third innings of work before Tanner came in to retire the final two batters and earn her second save of the day and third of the season. Tufts struck out two batters without allowing a walk, while Tanner fanned one of the two batters she faced.
 
Furman broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth to take the lead. Bartlett walked and moved into scoring position on Ludlam's single. After a strikeout and foul out, Kaitlyn Laudick lined a single the opposite way with two outs to drive in the go-ahead run.
 
Two innings later, Furman added an insurance run. Bartlett worked her third walk of the day and moved to second base on Marina Griffin's sacrifice bunt. Greico followed with a line drive down the right field line to up the margin to 2-0.
 
PC got a one-out hit in the bottom of the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but Tanner struck out Lexi Palazzo and got Layna Johnson to hit a soft liner to second baseman Amanda Fleming to end the Blue Hose's threat.
 
Jenna Greene (6-8) took the loss for PC (13-18) despite allowing just two runs on four hits over seven innings. She fanned 10 batters and walked four.
 
Furman (18-23) looks to close the gap on first place Western Carolina when the Paladins visit the Catamounts Softball Complex in Cullowhee, N.C., for a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader on ESPN+ is set for 1 p.m.