Greenville, S.C. – Senior Hannah Poole capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run home run to propel Furman to a 3-2 victory over IUPUI in the final game of Friday's action at the Furman Invitational at Pepsi Stadium.
 
Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, Furman's Ainley Yoshizumi opened the frame with a single through the right side and Ashlee Lykins reached on a bunt single to start the rally. A double play left the Paladins (5-1) with a runner on second and two outs, but Kiley Perry kept the rally alive with an RBI double into the gap before Poole launched a two-run blast to left-center field to give Furman the 3-2 lead.
 
Junior Emme Buzhardt entered the game in the seventh to retire the Jaguars in order to close out the win and record her nation-leading fourth save of the season. Senior Sierra Tufts (3-0) earned the win after holding IUPUI to one earned run on four hits over six innings.
 
Alexa Holman (0-2) suffered the loss for the Jaguars giving up three runs on six hits over six innings of work.
 
IUPUI (1-5) jumped in front in the top of the first scoring a pair of runs on two hits and a Paladin error. The Jaguars threatened to add to the lead in the third inning, but Furman's Chloe Fabio made a diving stop and an accurate throw from her knees to first base to end the frame. In the fifth, IUPUI had two runners on with one out before Tufts induced a fielder's choice and fanned Kinsey Pfeiffer to deny the visitors a third run.
 
Poole went 2-for-2 with the two-run homer, a single, and a walk to lead Furman's offense while Lykins also notched two hits. Morgan Gilbert finished 2-for-4 at the plate for the Jaguars.
 
Georgetown opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Lipscomb before the Bisons rebounded to top Towson 7-3. The Hoyas followed with a 6-0 victory over IUPUI prior to Furman's victory in its home opener.
 
The Furman Invitational continues Saturday with five games, beginning at 9 a.m. The Paladins take the field at 4:30 p.m. versus Towson and 7 p.m. against Georgetown. Admission is free to all games at Pepsi Stadium.
 
Live statistics will be available for all five games on Saturday via StatBroadcast.com. Furman's Saturday matchups against both Towson and Georgetown will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
FURMAN INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday
Georgetown 2, Lipscomb 1
Lipscomb 7, Towson 3
Georgetown 6, IUPUI 0
Furman 3, IUPUI 2
Saturday
9:00 – Lipscomb vs. Towson* (Live Stats)
11:30 – IUPUI vs. Lipscomb* (Live Stats)
2:00 – Georgetown vs. IUPUI* (Live Stats)
4:30 – Towson at Furman* (Live Stats)
7:00 – Georgetown at Furman* (Live Stats)
Sunday
9:00 – IUPUI vs. Towson* (Live Stats)
11:30 – Georgetown vs. Towson* (Live Stats)
2:00 – Lipscomb at Furman* (Live Stats)
 
* – designated home team