David Long tied Wofford's career Division I home run record while freshman Adam Wood had four hits and three RBI to lead the Terriers to a 13-9 victory over Western Kentucky this afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Long's blast in the first inning, his fourth of the year, gave him 19 in his two-season Terrier career. The senior from Coeburn, Va., played his first two years at Walters State (Tenn.) Community College. Scott Yaniszewski also hit 19 homers in just two seasons (1998-99) at Wofford. The Terriers are in their 10th year in Division I, beginning play at that level in 1996.
Wofford's starting lineup featured four freshmen who combined for 11 hits and nine RBI. In addition to third baseman Wood, second baseman Shane Kirkley and rightfielder Ben Austin both had three hits and three RBI while shortstop Brandon Waring added a base hit. Kirkley was a triple shy of the cycle.
Long totaled three hits to help key an 18-hit Terrier attack. Eight of nine Wofford starters batted safely.
Andrew Hewitt (3-0) went 5 1/3 innings to win his third straight start.
Kirkley homered and doubled while Long had his record-tying blast to highlight a seven-run Terrier first inning.
After a leadoff single by Scott Holloway, Kirkley hit his second homer of the season. Seven of Kirkley's first 10 collegiate hits are for extra bases.
Long made it back-to-back homers when he followed Kirkley with a towering drive to left. Austin and Wood added run-scoring base hits before Kirkley capped the inning with his RBI double.
Hilltopper starter J.C. Faircloth (0-3) was charged with six earned runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Two Terrier errors led to three unearned runs in the third, cutting the Western Kentucky deficit to 8-4. The Hilltoppers then had the bases loaded with one out, before Hewitt induced Eric Scriven to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Jesse Cole's two-run single, his second hit of the game, extended the Terrier lead to 10-4 in the bottom of the third.
A two-run homer by Antone Towns in the top of the fourth pulled the Hilltoppers (5-10) within 10-6.
A double by Wood in the bottom of the fourth scored Austin from first to build the Terrier lead back to 11-6.
The Terriers (9-10) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, off an Austin single and Wood double, to build their margin to 13-6.
A Townes' three-run homer, his fifth long ball of the weekend, in the eighth inning trimmed the Wofford advantage to 13-9.
Wofford hosts South Carolina Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Terriers return to SoCon play next weekend with a three-game series at Appalachian State. Western Kentucky is home Friday for the start of a three-game set with Akron.
