SPARTANBURG, SC – Wofford scored twice in the eighth inning to take an 8-6 win in the second game of its doubleheader with Appalachian State and earn a split of the twinbill. The Mountaineers won the opener 10-3.
The Terrier victory snapped a 16-game losing streak. It was Wofford’s first win since posting an 8-4 win over Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne on March 18.
In the nightcap, the Terriers built a 6-1 lead before Appalachian State rallied for five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to knot the game at 6.
Wofford scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to post the win. Adam Wood led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Keith Munns. Bradford Eaves’ grounder to second was mishandled for an error, allowing Wood to beat the throw to the plate. Eaves moved to second on the throw before stealing third and scoring when the throw to third sailed into left field.
The Terriers opened the scoring, tallying two runs in the third when Steven Fusaro singled, stole second, and scored on a double to center by Chuck Eller. John Brandt followed with another double to center to score Eller for a 2-0 lead.
Wofford tacked on three runs in the fourth. Keith Munns led off with a single and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Eaves. But ASU pitcher Garrett Sherrill dropped the ball while attempting to tag Eaves putting runners on second and third. Eric Sturkie doubled home two runs then scored on a double by Chuck Eller.
John Brandt blasted his 11th homer of the season leading off the fifth for a 6-1 lead.
Kevin Butler homered in the seventh off starter Ben Austin who went 6 and one-third innings and scattered eight hits and allowed just three runs. Austin issued a walk to David Rubinstein and reliever Reid McElveen walked two more hitters to load the bases. Chris Baker grounded out to force home a run and cut the deficit to 6-3.
ASU tied the game with three runs in the eighth. Adam Beasley doubled home one run and Rubinstein delivered a two-run single.
J.D. Melton earned the win for the Terriers, going 2 and two-third innings and striking out two to improve to 3-3. Aubrey Edens saw his record fall to 0-3 with the loss.
Appalachian State won the first game of the doubleheader by a 10-3 score.
Appalachian scored three unearned runs in the second. With one out, Rubinstein reached on an error by the third baseman and moved to second on a balk. Baker doubled to drive in Rubinstein and that was followed by an RBI double by Wes Borden. Rand Smith then singled to score Borden and put ASU up 3-0.
ASU scored five runs, all unearned, in the fourth. Wofford committed three errors and Kevin Butler blasted a two-run homer.
Wofford scored twice in the fifth. Munns led off the inning with a solo homer to left, his fourth of the year. Sturkie followed with a double and after moving to third on an infield out, scored on a sacrifice fly by Brent Pearce.
Ben Billingsley blasted a two-run homer in the sixth to give the Mountaineers a 10-2 lead.
Wofford rallied in the sixth. Shane Kirkley hit his ninth homer of the season to cut the deficit to 10-3. Starter Jason Rook walked Adam Wood and Eric Sturkie and allowed a single to Keith Munns. But reliever Calvin Teague came on with the bases loaded and struck out J.D. Melton to extinguish the threat.
Rook earned the win to improve to 3-4 while Teague notched his first save. Wofford’s Austin Redwine (5-4) was the hard-luck loser, giving up eight runs, all unearned, on just five hits.
Wofford will host North Carolina A&T on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Russell C. King Field. Appalachian State will host North Carolina A&T on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Red Lackey Field.
