Greenville, S.C. – The Furman softball team completed an undefeated weekend at the GVL Showdown on Saturday with victories over the George Mason Patriots and Iona Gaels at Pepsi Stadium.

Furman extends its winning streak to three consecutive games and improved to 6-7 on the season. With the losses, George Mason dropped to 3-4 overall and Iona 0-3.

The Paladins began the day by defeating George Mason 10-5 and followed with a 6-2 victory over Iona.

Game 1 – George Mason 5, Furman 10
Furman defeated the Patriots for the second straight day after winning 8-0 in six innings on Friday. The Paladins used a six-run fourth inning to break a tie score and go on to the five-run victory.

Lauralee Scott (2-2) combined to pitch five innings for Furman and surrendered three runs on seven hits, three walks and four strikeouts to collect the win in the circle. Carly Cooper (3-1) took the loss throwing 3.1 innings and gave up nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits, three walks and one strikeout.

Shelby Basso got the Paladins on the board first in the bottom of the second after hitting a three-run homer, her first long ball of the season, to right field. George Mason would later tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth capped by a two RBI single from Haley Taormina. 

Furman broke the game open in its half of the fourth plating six runs that Natalie Morgan highlighted with a grand slam to center field for her second home run of the year. Morgan's homer gave the Paladins a 9-3 lead. Ashlee Lykins began the scoring with an RBI infield single and Riley Ludlam later drew a bases loaded walk.

The Patriots responded by scoring twice in the top of the fifth to cut Furman's lead down to 9-5. Rachel Warrens was responsible for both runs on her two RBI double to right center field.

The Paladins added a single run in the bottom of the sixth to push their lead back to 10-5 when Marina Griffin, who had led off the inning with a walk, scored from third base on a wild pitch.

Lykins went 3-for-5 with one RBI to lead Furman while Morgan provided four RBI and Basso added two hits and three RBI. Alex Rose Molinar recorded two hits and Griffin scored two runs.

Warrens went 2-for-4 to pace George Mason offensively and contributed two RBI and one run scored.

Game 2 – Iona 2, Furman 6
Sierra Tufts tossed her second complete game of the weekend as the Paladins earned a four-run win over the Gaels.

Tufts (3-0), who threw a complete game shutout against George Mason on Friday, allowed two runs (one earned) over seven innings while giving up two walks and striking out four. Kara Zazzaro (0-2) suffered the loss surrendering six runs on three hits, seven walks and five strikeouts over six innings of work.

Iona struck first with a run in the top of the first after Jessica Chilcott scored from third base while Natalia Meray was caught in a rundown between first and second. Furman answered back in the bottom of the first with two runs to go ahead 2-1 when Griffin and Basso both drew bases loaded walks.

The Paladins would extend their lead to 6-1 through four innings after scoring twice in back-to-back frames. Molinar brought home Griffin and Emily Bartlett with her two RBI double to left center field in the bottom of the third and Bartlett later recorded a two RBI single to left center field in the fourth that drove in Morgan and Becca Crawford.

After giving up a first inning run, Tufts limited the Gaels to only one more run over the final six innings and gave up just three hits. Iona received an RBI double with two outs in the top of the sixth from Chilcott to make the score 6-2.

Lykins, Bartlett and Molinar all had one hit while Bartlett and Molinar led Furman with two RBI. Morgan scored two runs and Griffin and Basso each registered one RBI.

Chilcott went 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored for Iona. Hannah Collins and Kayla Haywood tallied one hit apiece.

Up Next
Due to anticipated inclement weather in the Greenville area on Sunday, the final day of the GVL Showdown has been canceled. The Paladins were originally scheduled to play Presbyterian in a doubleheader. 

Furman is back in action next weekend, March 4-6, when it travels to Starkville, Miss. to face Jacksonville State, Alcorn State and Mississippi State in the Bulldog Invitational.