Johnson City, Tenn. – Furman plated a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to edge East Tennessee State, 6-4, in the opening game of a three-game Southern Conference softball series Friday at Betty Basler Field.
With the series opener knotted at 4-4 in the seventh inning,
Kate Stoltzfus was plunked by a pitch to begin the frame before being erased on
Caitlin Goldwait's fielder's choice.
Ansley Chiang placed a bunt single down the first base line to put two runners on base for the Paladins.
Sylvia Burroughs lofted a routine fly ball to center field for the second out. Both runners attempted to advance and the throw to second base sailed towards the first base dugout allowing Goldwait and Chiang to score.
Senior
Emme Buzhardt, who entered the game in relief in the sixth inning, worked around a two-out single to retire the Bucs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory as Furman improved to 12-21 overall and 2-2 in SoCon play. ETSU slipped to 12-21 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
Furman opened the scoring in the top of the second as
Katie Peeler and
Jordynn Lawrence each drove in a run. ETSU erased the advantage two batters into the bottom of the second on Leinani Lutu's two-run homer to straightaway center field. Goldwait singled to start the third inning and scored the go-ahead run on
Kiley Perry's base hit. The pair added an insurance run in the fifth inning after Goldwait worked a base on balls and raced home on Perry's single up the middle.
ETSU rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Riley Nayadley snapped a streak of 12 consecutive batters retired by Furman starter Angeline Ricciardi by earning a leadoff walk. Buzhardt came out of the pen and appeared to retire Nayadley on a force at second base, but Stoltzfus was ruled to have missed the bag. Following a wild pitch, Sara Muir drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Taylor Suchy evened the game at 4-4 on an RBI single.
Ricciardi limited the Bucs to two earned runs on three hits over five-plus innings despite getting a no decision. Buzhardt improved to 5-6 in the circle after allowing one run on two hits over two innings of relief.
Perry went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs while Goldwait registered a single, base on balls, and scored three of Furman's six runs. Chiang went 2-for-2 with a walk.
Reliever Gabby Fowler (2-5) was saddled with the loss for ETSU. She allowed three runs, just one earned, on two hits over three innings.
The three-game series between the Paladins and Buccaneers concludes on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Betty Basler Field. Live statistics will be available at FurmanPaladins.com with in-game updates at @FurmanSoftball on X.
