Paladins Outlast Mountaineers 13-12

Furman 13, Appalachian State 12

Marcus Rose scored the game-winning run on Jay Jackson’s slow roller to second as Furman outlasted Appalachian State, 13-12, Friday at the Bennett Hofford Southern Conference Championship.

Tied 12-12, Rose walked and stole second to open the bottom of the ninth. Bobby Hubbard was intentionally walked and Rose stole third and Hubbard stole second. Reese Wade earned an intentional pass to lead the bases before Joey Rogers popped out setting up Jackson’s fielder’s choice to shortstop. The throw to the plate was not in time as Rose slid home with the game-winning run.

The game featured six home runs as Furman (33-23) set a school record for wins in a season. The Paladins stole eight bases in the contest.

The Paladins scored three runs in the first inning and exploded for eight more in the fifth. The Mountaineers scored runs in five of the first innings.

With 681 fans on hand at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C., Appalachian State (32-27) scored one run in the top of the first inning when Isaac Harrow’s sacrifice fly brought home Jason Altenhof. Furman tallied three runs in the bottom of the inning when Jackson drove home two runs and scored later on a passed ball.

After Jason Wallace led off the second with a single for the Mountaineers, David Towarnicky homered to tie the score, 3-3. Appalachian State added two runs in the third inning when Wes Hobson doubled down the line and Harrow crashed a home run to left centerfield. Furman scored in the bottom half of the inning when Jackson singled, stole second and third and scored on a fly out by Matt Hemingway to cut Furman’s deficit to 5-4.

In the fourth inning, Andrew Franco and Towarnicky stroked back-to-back homers to give the Mountaineers a 7-4 advantage.

Furman tallied eight runs on four hits, a hit by pitched ball, two passed balls and two errors in the fifth inning to take a 12-7 lead. Hubbard led off with a single and the Paladins loaded the bases after a hit by Wade and Rogers was hit by a pitch. Jackson doubled in two runs and Hemingway brought in another run on a fielder’s choice. Lewis reached on a fielder’s choice bring another run home and Rose reached on a dropped fly ball bring home another run. Hubbard walked with the bases loaded for the sixth run of the inning. Rogers singled in a run and Rose advanced to third and scored on a throwing error.

Appalachian State answered with five runs in the sixth inning to knot the score, 12-12. Following a single by Towarnicky, Franco homered. Rand Smith reached on an error and Altenhof singled. Hobson reached on a fielder’s choice and Smith scored on a wild pitch. Harrow homered driving in two runners to tie the score.

Jackson finished the day with four hits and five RBI for the Paladins. Harrow was 3-for-4 for the Mountaineers with four RBI.

Ian Perry (5-4) pitched three innings of relief allowing three hits and striking out three to earn the win. Garrett Sherrill (1-4), who pitched 0.2 of an inning, walked four and allowed one run to take the loss.

The loss eliminates Appalachian State from the tournament. Furman will take on College of Charleston on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.