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GREENVILLE, S.C. — The tension was impossible to ignore. Bases loaded, the scoreboard tied at four, and Pepsi Stadium holding its collective breath, Rachel Hawkins stepped to the plate. One swing later, a fly ball to center field brought Sylvia Burroughs home, ending a dramatic opener with a 5-4 walk-off victory for Furman. The stadium erupted as the Paladins celebrated a moment that will linger in fans’ memories.
The nightcap told a different story. Bucknell exploded for six runs in the third inning, taking control and eventually winning 7-3. Across both games, Furman showed flashes of resilience, timely hitting, and the drama of late-inning heroics.
Game One: A Back-and-Forth Thriller
Furman drew first blood in the second inning. Christina McCoy and Kate Stoltzfus delivered key hits that brought two runs across, giving the Paladins an early 2-0 advantage. Bucknell responded in the fourth, stringing together three hits to plate three runs and flip the lead. Furman answered immediately, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim the lead. The fifth inning saw Bucknell tie the game at 4-4, setting the stage for a tense finish.
The seventh inning brought the drama to a peak. Bucknell’s Sarah Zimmerman singled, and Barbara Jo Coppola reached on an error, leaving runners at second and third with no outs. Furman pitcher Kristyn Embler, however, held her composure, retiring the next three batters in order to strand both runners.
In the bottom of the seventh, Burroughs singled to lead off, and after a throwing error moved runners into scoring position, Katie Peeler drew a walk to load the bases. Hawkins then lofted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Burroughs for the walk-off win.
Embler earned the complete-game victory, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five. Burroughs, Stoltzfus, and McCoy each had two hits, while Hawkins drove in two RBIs. Bucknell’s Sarah Zimmerman took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits.
Game Two: Bucknell’s Third-Inning Explosion
The nightcap started quietly. Bucknell scored first on a first-inning RBI double from Zimmerman. But the third inning changed everything. Walks and defensive miscues put Furman in a jam, and Bucknell capitalized with timely hitting. Brooke Popella and Meadow Gambacurta delivered RBI singles, followed by a two-run single from Addison “Sonny” Taft. By the end of the inning, Bucknell had plated six runs, seizing control of the game.
Furman showed life in the fourth. AB Cipalla and Stoltzfus reached base before Burroughs crushed a three-run home run to left field, briefly energizing the dugout. Despite the surge, Bucknell’s Avery Powers settled in, limiting Furman to five hits over the remaining innings to secure the 7-3 victory.
Burroughs finished two-for-three with three RBIs, and Logan Gunter added a triple for Furman’s only other extra-base hit. Powers earned the win in relief after pitching seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits.
Looking Ahead: Lessons and Momentum
The split leaves Furman with both a thrilling high and a learning opportunity. Game one showcased the Paladins’ clutch composure and ability to capitalize in late innings. Game two highlighted the importance of consistent defense and the impact of one explosive inning.
Furman moves to 4-21 on the season and returns to Pepsi Stadium on March 18 for a home doubleheader against USC Upstate, aiming to build on the excitement from the walk-off and improve consistency on both offense and defense.
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