GREENVILLE, S.C. — Furman's Logan Taplett drove in two runs and went 3-for-4 to lead the Paladins to an 8-2 victory over Campbell, taking the weekend series in Sunday's decisive series finale at Latham Stadium.
The Fighting Camels fell to 6-9 with the setback while Furman improved to an even 8-8 on the season.
Furman's starter Rob Hughes (2-1) earned the win, holding the Camels to just one hit over seven innings on the mound. The sophomore struck out seven and walked three while allowing both of Campbell's two runs on the day.
Campbell senior Jack Yusko went 2.1 innings in relief after replacing starter Logan Heintzman (0-1), who was saddled with the loss, in the top of the third. Yusko struck out a season-high three batters while allowing two walks and two hits; he gave up two runs, both unearned.
Keegan Houser threw the sixth and seventh innings, keeping Furman from scoring in both frames. Houser sat the Paladins down in order in the seventh after collecting two strikeouts in the frame as he finished his outing with three strikeouts. Fred Sisco tossed the eighth, struck out one, but allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk.
Matthew Christian and Waldy Arias had Campbell's two hits as Christian hit an RBI double in the fourth inning before Arias reached on an infield single in the eighth inning. Meanwhile, Furman had 10 hits, led by Taplett, who had three hits.
Furman scored first in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded, two-run single by Banks Griffith, but Heintzman got the next batter to ground into a double play, ending the inning.
The Paladins add two more runs to their lead when Blake Brady hit a two-run home run to left field. Heintzman walked the next batter and was pulled for Yusko, who issued a walk to the first Paladin he faced. A fielder's choice groundout kept the deficit at four runs, 4-0.
Arias led off the top of the fourth with a hit by pitch, his 12th hit by pitch of the year, before Zach Williams reached on a one-out walk. Spencer Packard hit a deep fly ball to straightaway center field to move Arias to third base. With two away, Arias and Williams executed a double steal of home and second base, scoring Campbell's first run of the ballgame.
Christian plated Williams with his two-out RBI double down the left-field line, but a strikeout stranded two runners and kept Campbell from cutting to Furman's lead more.
Furman scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth as the Camels committed two errors before the one-out, two-run single by Taplett.
In the top of the eighth, Arias hit a one-out infield single before Williams reached on a two-out error by the Furman third baseman. Packard drew a walk to load the bases for Koby Collins, who went down looking on strikes, stranding three runners.
Furman reliever Matt Lazzaro, who threw the eighth inning, also tossed a scoreless ninth inning to clinch the weekend series for the Paladins.
Up Next for the Camels
The Fighting Camels will return to Buies Creek to host Old Dominion on Wednesday, Mar. 11, for a 6 p.m. first pitch at Jim Perry Stadium.
Campbell will return to South Carolina next weekend, Mar. 13-15, to open Big South play at Charleston Southern. The series opener is set for Friday at 6 p.m. at Nielsen Park at CSU Ballpark while Game 2 will begin the following day at 4 p.m. The series finale is slated for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
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