Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A big fifth inning by the Furman Paladins broke open a 2-1 game as the Elon Phoenix dropped Friday night's series opener by an 18-2 margin.  Elon dropped to 18-13 overall and 11-5 in Southern Conference play while Furman improved to 16-15, 6-7.

Alex Swim kept his hitting streak alive as he went 1-for-3 on the night.  His streak is now at 24 games.  Ryan Kinsella doubled twice and scored both of Elon's runs while Jake Luce drove in both runs with a 3-for-3 night.

The Paladins scored single runs in both the first and second innings on homers by Will Owens and Paul Nitto.  The Phoenix got on the board in the fourth when Kinsella scored from third on a Luce single.

As the full moon rose in the fifth inning, the wheels fell off for Elon.  Furman sent 16 men to the plate and scored 11 runs. 

Elon scored its second run in the sixth when Luce again drove home Kinsella.

The Paladins added two runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

Dylan Clark (6-2) suffered his first loss in league play.  Clark gave up six runs on six hits in four innings while striking out five.

Bobby Lyne (5-2) scattered nine hits and gave up both runs in six innings to earn the win.  He fanned six.

Elon will look to avenge this loss on Saturday when the teams will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. to conclude the series.