Greenville, S.C. – Alex Rose Molinar's game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning propelled the Furman softball team to a 4-3 victory in its regular season finale over the East Tennessee State Buccaneers, Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
With the win, Furman improves to 20-31 on the season and 8-10 in SoCon play. East Tennessee State drops to 8-46 overall and 4-14 in the conference.
The Paladins held their Senior Day festivities prior to first pitch recognizing
Emily Bartlett,
Marina Griffin,
Natalie Morgan and
Bailey Tanner.
Furman began the bottom of the eight with
Hannah Hollander, pinch hitting for Griffin, reaching on a hit by pitch. Griffin re-entered the game and advanced to second when
Ashlee Lykins drew a walk. Molinar delivered the walk-off single on the first pitch to right center field and drove in Griffin from second.
The Paladins took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on
Caitlin Goldwait's RBI single, but the Buccaneers tied the game the following inning on an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by Amber Atkins.
Riley Ludlam put Furman back in the lead during the bottom of the fifth with her RBI single to left field. Lykins led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. She came home on Ludlam's base hit.
East Tennessee State responded by taking the lead back in the top of the seventh on Bailey Turnbow's two RBI double off the left field wall, making the score 3-2. The Paladins would tie the game in the bottom-half of the inning when Goldwait singled up the middle and plated Lykins, who started the inning with a single to left field.
Tanner (3-1), who came on in relief of starter
Sierra Tufts, earned the win allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings of work. Allison Farr (5-17) suffered the loss throwing 4.2 innings of relief and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
Lykins, Ludlam and Goldwait all had two hits to lead Furman offensively and Goldwait recorded two RBI. Lykins also scored twice while Molinar and Ludlam both drove in one run.
Turnbow had a team high two RBI for the Buccaneers and Cameron Young went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
The 2022 SoCon Softball Championship is being held May 11-14 at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. Stay tuned to www.furmanpaladins.com for complete tournament information.