Johnson City, Tenn. – Freshman
Lily O'Bryan earned her first career win in the circle as Furman captured the rubber game of its best-of-three series at ETSU, 7-1, on Saturday afternoon at Bett Basler Field. After Furman claimed a 6-4 victory on Friday night, the Bucs had evened the series with a 1-0 decision in the opening game of Saturday's twinbill.
Game 1: ETSU 1, Furman 0
Marissa Barnes hurled a two-hit shutout to power ETSU to a 1-0 victory in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. The right-hander needed just 82 pitches to get through seven innings and improve to 3-3 in the circle. Barnes issued four walks and recorded four strikeouts in the victory.
ETSU got all the offense it would need in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taylor Suchy reached base on a one-out error and went to third base on Leinani Lutu's single to center field. Makayla Veglia followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to break the scoreless deadlock.
Emme Buzhardt (5-7) was the tough-luck loser for Furman. She surrendered only an unearned run on five hits over six innings while fanning three batters without allowing a walk.
Freshmen
Rachel Hawkins and
Madison Petty registered the only hits for the Paladins.
Game 2: Furman 7, ETSU 1
Furman plated four runs in the top of the sixth inning and added three more in the seventh to claim the series victory with a 7-1 triumph in game two on Saturday afternoon.
Furman broke open a scoreless tie with four runs in the top half of the sixth against ETSU starter Eden Muncy.
Kate Stoltzfus worked a leadoff walk and
Caitlin Goldwait followed with a bunt single. After a pop out,
Sylvia Burroughs loaded the bases with a walk and
Kiley Perry gave the Paladins the lead with a sacrifice fly to right field. Hawkins then lined a two-run double to left field to up the lead to 3-0 before
Katie Peeler bounced an RBI single up the middle to drive in the fourth run of the frame.
ETSU got on the board in the bottom of the inning on Taylor Rieger's two-out double into the gap, but Furman's
Lauralee Scott came out of the bullpen to fan pinch hitter Quinn Ballengee and strand two runners on base. Two walks and a hit batter set the table again for Furman in the seventh ahead of
Sylvia Burroughs' bases clearing double into the gap that extended the lead to 7-1.
O'Bryan (1-4) tossed 5.2 innings allowing just a run on three hits to earn her first career victory in the circle. The Cleveland, Tenn., native, playing in her home state, walked seven and struck out three. Scott threw 1.1 scoreless and surrendered just one hit to notch her first save of the season.
Peeler went 2-for-3 at the plate while Hawkins and Burroughs combined for two doubles and five RBI. Stoltzfus doubled and drew two walks for the Paladins.
Muncy absorbed the loss for ETSU (13-22, 2-4 SoCon) after allowing four runs on five hits in six innings of work. She walked two Paladins and recorded five strikeouts.
The Paladins (13-22, 3-3 SoCon) are back at home next weekend to host SoCon rival UNC Greensboro in a three-game series at Pepsi Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch with Sunday's series finale also set for 1 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
