Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

Atlanta, Ga. - Furman belted three home runs and scored 15 runs on 16 hits to down Mercer 15-7 for its first victory of the season Saturday afternoon at the Georgia State Panther Invitational at Bob Heck Field. The host Panthers downed Furman 7-1 in the Lady Paladins' second game of the afternoon.

In game one, senior Megan Jaudon led the way going 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBI. Amber Kiser and Jessica Batten also each collected three hits while Stephanie Cushing and Lana Mackey each homered and drove in four runs. Third baseman Abby Robertson went 2-for-4 with four runs scored.

Furman exploded with four runs in the first inning and six more in the second. Mercer pulled to within 10-7, but the Lady Paladins added three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to force the eight-run mercy rule.

Reliever Lana Mackey earned her first career win in the circle despite allowing four runs on four hits in two innings of work. Mercer's April Cunningham surrendered six runs in 2.1 innings to take the loss.

In Furman's second game, Ashley Cowan tossed a complete-game, four-hitter to guide Georgia State to a 7-1 win. Cowan allowed just one unearned run and fanned two Lady Paladins.

Nicole Griffin paced the Panther offense going 2-for-4 with a double, homer and four RBI. Junior Blake Murray allowed four runs on six hits in three innings in the circle to absorb the loss for Lady Paladins.

Furman (1-4-1) continues play in the Panther Invitational Sunday morning at 10 a.m. against Army. A win would move Furman into a 4:30 p.m. championship matchup with Georgia State while a loss would pit Furman and Mercer in a 2:30 p.m. consolation game.