Greenville, S.C. – The Furman softball team begins its 2022 season this weekend when it hosts the five-team Paladin Invitational from Pepsi Stadium.
The Paladins are joined this weekend by Bellarmine, Maryland Eastern Shore, North Dakota and Tarleton State. Furman will play four games throughout the weekend consisting of two on Friday, and one each on Saturday and Sunday. The Paladins face North Dakota (4:30 p.m.) and Maryland Eastern Shore (7:00 p.m.) on Friday, Tarleton State (7:00 p.m.) on Saturday and Bellarmine (2:00 p.m.) on Sunday.
Fans can follow the action this weekend on www.furmanpaladins.com via live stats. Friday's games against North Dakota and Maryland Eastern Shore, and Sunday's contest versus Bellarmine, are being streamed via paid subscription on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Updates will also be posted on the Furman softball Twitter page (@FurmanSoftball).
Admission is free throughout the weekend.
This weekend marks the opening of a 25-game home schedule for Furman and the first of three consecutive tournaments being hosted at Pepsi Stadium. The Paladins return six starters and their top three pitchers from a 2021 squad that posted a 19-28 overall record and 8-9 SoCon mark.
Furman was picked to finish sixth in the SoCon preseason poll while seniors
Emily Bartlett and
Natalie Morgan, junior
Riley Ludlam, and sophomores
Sierra Tufts and
Ashlee Lykins were selected preseason All-SoCon. Bartlett and Ludlam earned recognition on the first team while Morgan, Tufts and Lykins were named to the second team.
North Dakota finished last season with a 17-33 overall record while Tarleton State went 17-36. Bellarmine compiled a 6-31 record in 2021. Maryland Eastern Shore will be playing its first games since 2020 after not competing last season. UMES posted a 3-18 record during a COVID-shortened 2020 season.
The Paladins continue their season-opening nine-game homestand next weekend, February 18-20, hosting three teams as part of the Furman Classic.
2022 Paladin Invitational Schedule
Friday, February 11
Tarleton State vs. Bellarmine, 9:00 a.m.
North Dakota vs. Bellarmine, 11:30 a.m.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Tarleton State, 2:00 p.m.
North Dakota vs. Furman, 4:30 p.m.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Furman, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 12
Bellarmine vs. North Dakota, 11:30 a.m.
North Dakota vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 2:00 p.m.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Tarleton State, 4:30 p.m.
Tarleton State vs. Furman, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 13
Tarleton State vs. North Dakota, 9:00 a.m.
Bellarmine vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 11:30 a.m.
Bellarmine vs. Furman, 2:00 p.m.
