GREENVILLE, SC - Toledo dropped an 8-3 decision to Furman in Friday's series opener at Latham Field. With the setback, the Rockets fall to 3-4 on the season.

Junior RHP Mike Hamann (0-2) was saddled with the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits with one strikeout in 4.0 innings.

Freshman SS Dan Zuchowski (3-for-4, 2 RBI) paced the Midnight Blue & Gold with a season-high three hits and sophomore C James Miglin (2-for-4, RS, RBI) recorded a multi-hit effort. Five of the UT starters collected a hit against four Paladins pitchers.

Furman (5-5) touched up Hamann with multiple runs over the course of three frames to send the right-handed hurler to the showers early.

FU never trailed in the non-league contest, registering a RBI single off the bat of Will Muzika in the bottom of the first inning.

UT countered with a solo home run by Miglin in the top of the second frame, but Furman countered with three runs in the bottom of the second to assume an advantage the home team would not relinquish. Zack Greenwell, Will Owens and Will Miller were each credited with run-scoring hits in the inning to make the difference 4-1.

The Rockets mustered a pair of tallies in the third inning on the strength of a two-run, two-out double by Zuchowski to close the margin to a single run, 4-3.

Unfortunately for Toledo, the Paladins fought back with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to build an insurmountable lead. Burton provided a two-run single and Greenwell and Owens each tallied a RBI hit to finish off the scoring.

Freshman RHP Alec Schmenk and sophomore RHP Cameron Palmer came on in relief of Hamann and the duo was outstanding, limiting Furman to just two hits over the final 4.0 innings.

FU's Bobby Lyne (2-1) picked up the victory, yielding three runs (one earned) on seven hits with one punchout in 5.1 frames.

Taylor Johnson (2-for-4, 2 RS), Owens (2-for-4, 2 RS, 2 RBI), Miller (2-for-5, RBI) and Burton (2-for-2, RS, 2 RBI) led the victors with two hits each.

The Rockets and Paladins will continue their three-game series tomorrow beginning at 1:00 p.m. Senior RHP Alex Radon is slated to start Toledo on Saturday.

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