Greenville, S.C. – Sylvia Burroughs and Kristyn Embler belted back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to help power Furman to a 5-3 victory over Wofford as the Paladins claimed the best-of-three series versus the Terriers in Southern Conference softball action Saturday at Pepsi Stadium.
 
With Furman leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Embler lined an opposite field homer over the right-center field fence and Burroughs, playing her final game at Pepsi Stadium on Senior Day, followed with a towering blast to left-center to extend Furman's advantage to 5-2.
 
Embler, pitching in relief of starter Jamison Noonan, cruised through the sixth inning and retired two of the first three batters in the seventh before issuing three consecutive walks to load the bases and trim the Furman lead to 5-3. Fellow freshman Gwen Hill came out of the bullpen and got Kaytlin Greenwood to popup to center field for the final out as the Paladins clinched their second SoCon series victory of the season.
 
Noonan, who worked 4.1 innings, picked up the victory to improve to 4-9 in the circle. The freshman scattered four hits and allowed one earned run for the game while walking one Terrier and fanning two. Embler gave up one run on three hits over 2.1 innings before Hill recorded the final out to earn her first career save.
 
Furman (13-36, 5-13 SoCon) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on two-out, RBI singles from Burroughs and Katie Peeler. After Wofford got on the board in the top half of the fourth inning, Furman answered in the bottom of the frame. Hope Marshburn reached base on a leadoff single and scored when Kate Stoltzfus' line drive caromed off the pitcher allowing the sophomore to score from third base.
 
Wofford (30-17, 7-11 SoCon) responded with a run in the top of the fifth before Burroughs and Embler delivered back-to-back jacks to help the Paladins build a cushion they were able to hold onto over the final two frame in the series finale.
 
Embler and Burroughs each went 2-for-3 with a homer while Rachel Hawkins doubled and Peeler and Stoltzfus added RBI.
 
Starter Abby Greenwood allowed two runs on four hits over two innings to take the loss for the Terriers. Rivers Sampson collected a pair of hits for Wofford while Desirae Devine finished 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBI.
 
Furman is scheduled to play its non-conference finale versus Georgia Tech on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga. The Paladins will cap the regular season next weekend with a three-game league series at Chattanooga.
 
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