Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Furman claimed an 11-3 victory over SIU Edwardsville and dropped a 12-2 verdict to No. 22 Alabama on the opening day of the T-Mobile Crimson Classic Friday at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 
Furman 11, SIUE 3 (5 inn.)
The Paladins exploded for 11 runs on 13 hits in five innings to run-rule SIU Edwardsville, 11-3, in the opening game of the day.
 
Trailing 1-0 after an inning, the Paladins erupted for five runs in the top half of the second. Kiley Perry opened the frame with her second home run in as many games and Logan Gunter and Rachel Hawkins followed with consecutive singles. With runners on the corners, Gunter and Hawkins executed a double steal to take the lead before Katie Peeler knocked in a run with a grounder to shortstop.
 
Caitlin Goldwait kept the rally alive with a two-out single and scored on Kate Stoltzfus' triple into the right-center field gap. Stoltzfus raced home on a wild pitch to cap the rally.
 
Gunter drew a leadoff walk in the third inning and swiped her third base of the day ahead of Hawkins' single that put to runners on with nobody out. Jordynn Lawrence lined an RBI single to centerfield and Goldwait followed with a two-run double to up the Paladin lead to 8-1.
 
After Furman starter Angelina Ricciardi retired the Cougars (5-7) in order in consecutive innings, Gunter and Hawkins combined to increase the advantage to 9-1 with a bunt single and a triple. Lauren Woodall's base on balls and another Goldwait double set the table in the fifth inning for Stoltzfus to drive home a run with a base hit. Madison Petty pushed the lead to 11-1 with a sacrifice fly.
 
Ricciardi (2-3) worked four-plus innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, to earn the win for the Paladins. Emme Buzhardt worked a scoreless inning of relief to finish off the mercy rule victory.
 
Goldwait finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and reached base four times while Hawkins went 3-for-3 with a triple. Gunter and Stoltzfus each collected two hits.
 
McKayla Anderson suffered the loss for SIUE to fall to 1-3 in the circle. She allowed five runs in 1.2 innings of work. Lauren Yslava belted a pair of home runs to drive in all three of the Cougars' runs.
 
No. 22 Alabama 12, Furman 2 (5 inn.)
 
The Crimson Tide (12-6) used a nine-run second inning to down Furman, 12-2, in five innings in the tournament's nightcap.
 
After Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead on Hawkins' sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning, Alabama answered with nine runs in the bottom of the frame to take control. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Tide and Salen Hawkins worked a walk to force in the tying run before Lauren Johnson lined a three-run double to left field to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Lily O'Bryan came on in relief of Paladin starter Lauralee Scott but allowed a walk, fielder's choice, and another walk to force in a run ahead of Mari Hubbard's two-run single off the glove of a diving Stoltzfus. A throwing error and passed ball helped Alabama cap the nine-run rally with a pair of unearned runs.
 
Madison Petty's two-out double to right field plated Stoltzfus with Furman's second run in the top of the third inning, but Alabama added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth en route to the run-rule victory.
 
Emily Winstead improved to 5-0 in the circle by holding Furman to one earned run on two hits over four innings of work. She fanned four batters and walked two. Alea Johnson came out of the bullpen to strikeout the side in the fifth to close out Alabama's sixth straight run-rule win.
 
Hubbard and Marlie Giles each went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to pace the Alabama offense while Lauren Johnson batted in three.
 
Scott (2-3) suffered the loss for Furman after allowing five runs and recording just three outs. O'Bryan allowed five earned runs – seven total – in two innings of work before Isabella Cear worked a scoreless frame.
 
Furman (6-12) continues tournament play on Saturday when it faces the Crimson Tide at 2:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+ before taking on UAB at 5 p.m. Fans can follow live statistics for all Furman games this weekend at FurmanPaladins.com.