FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Five games at Fluor Field, including a clash against two-time reigning national champion South Carolina, highlight Furman’s 2012 baseball schedule, which was released today by Paladin head coach Ron Smith.
Furman will play the Gamecocks on Mar. 20 at Fluor Field as part of a 32-game home schedule that also features contests with Michigan State (Feb. 24), Miami of Ohio (Feb. 25), Maine (Feb. 26), and Clemson (Apr. 10) at the beautiful downtown facility, which serves as the home of the Single A South Atlantic League Greenville Drive.
In addition, Furman and Fluor Field will play host to the 2012 Southern Conference Tournament, scheduled for May 23-27 for the league’s top eight qualifiers.
The Paladins open the 2012 campaign on Feb. 17 with a three-game series against Miami of Ohio at Latham Stadium on campus and, in all, will play seven of their first eight games and 18 of their first 25 contests at home. Included in that stretch will be a three-game set against the College of Charleston (Mar. 9-11), which will mark the Paladins’ SoCon opening weekend.
Furman returns 19 starters, among whom are five position starters, and nine pitchers off last year’s squad, which posted a 24-33 overall record, 13-16 SoCon mark, and eighth place league finish.
Among the leading returnees are eight of the squad’s top pitchers, led by senior righthanded pitcher Bobby Lyne (4-4, 3.84 ERA), and three of the squad’s top four hitters, including senior left fielder Will Owens (.321, 1 HR, 27 RBI), right fielder Will Miller (.298, 3 HR, 29 RBI), and sophomore third baseman Alex Abrams (.289, 1 HR, 18 RBI).
