Greenville, S.C. – Sophomore
Emme Buzhardt hurled a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory in game two to help Furman split Saturday's Southern Conference softball doubleheader versus Mercer at Pepsi Stadium. The Bears claimed a 5-1 decision in game one.
Buzhardt, who improved to 6-5 in the circle and 4-0 in SoCon play, scattered eight hits over seven innings and got several key plays from her defense to strand 11 Mercer runners on base. The Saluda, S.C., native issued two walks and fanned two batters as Furman won for the seventh time in her last eight starts.
The Paladins (17-23, 7-3 SoCon) plated the only run of the contest in the bottom of the second inning when
Kiley Perry opened the frame with a single and scored on fellow freshman
Sylvia Burroughs' double into the gap.
Mercer (13-27, 4-4 SoCon) used two singles and an error to load the bases with one out in the fourth inning, but Buzhardt escaped the jam when Burroughs cut down the lead runner on a force out at the plate and
Chrissy Fleming ranged up the middle to field a ground ball before making a glove-flip to
Alex Rose Molinar for the final out of the inning. The Bears put runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, but Buzhardt induced a grounder to Molinar at shortstop to end the threat. Mercer put the leadoff runner on base in the seventh with a single before three straight flyouts to
Ashlee Lykins in center field secured the win.
Lykins reached base with a single and a walk while Burroughs went 1-for-3 with the lone RBI of the game.
Starter Riley Hickok suffered the loss for Mercer to fall to 1-3. She allowed a run on three hits over two innings of work.
In the opening game of the day, Grace Taylor tossed a complete game and Sophie Sumner doubled and homered to lead Mercer to a 5-1 victory.
Mercer scored two runs in the top of the second after having two outs and nobody on base as Grace Prom was plunked by a pitch, Sophie Sumner lined a double to the wall, and Parris Wiggs followed with a two-run single. The Bears scored two more with a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. Bailey Ledvina worked a two-out walk and Kylie Helm doubled the lead with a two-run blast to left-center.
Taylor (7-13) scattered seven hits and surrendered just one run in seven innings to earn the win.
Sierra Tufts (9-9), who allowed five runs on six hits over seven innings, took the loss for Furman.
Wiggs and Helm drove in two runs apiece while Rebeca Laudino and Sumner notched two hits each.
Caitlin Goldwait went 2-for-3 to lead Furman in the loss.
The first-place Paladins and Bears are scheduled to play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available through StatBroadcast. Fans can access the links for the live streams and live stats at FurmanPaladins.com. Admission to Sunday's series finale is free.
