Box Score Box Score

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 9-2 by Elon on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. It was the first Southern Conference game of the season for the Terriers. The Phoenix scored six runs in the first three innings to build an insurmountable lead.

Wofford is now 14-6 on the season and 0-1 in the Southern Conference, while Elon is 18-3 and 3-1 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Emre Caglayan who was 3-of-4 from the plate and Mo Seay with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

Pitching was the story of the night, as Preseason All-Southern Conference pitcher Steven Hensley went 7.0 innings with 10 strikeouts for the Phoenix. For Wofford, Scott Summers settled down after the second inning and struck out six batters. John Cornely had three strikeouts and Reid McElveen added two strikeouts for Wofford.

The Phoenix started the game with a leadoff home run by Chris Dove to left center. In the second inning, three Phoenix hit doubles as four runs scored on four hits in the inning and Wofford committed one error. Elon added one more run in the third inning as Dallas Tarleton hit a double to bring in Chase Austin from first base.

Wofford got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Michael Gilmartin opened the inning with a walk, then Mo Seay hit a home run over the left field fence for a 6-2 score.

Neither team could generate much offense in the fifth and sixth innings, with the Phoenix going three-up and three-down in both frames. In the seventh inning, Elon added one run on a fielders’ choice by Pat Irvine and a second run on a single by Cory Harrilchak for an 8-2 lead.

In the seventh, the Terriers loaded the bases but could not score a run in the inning. Elon took a 9-2 lead in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly by Chris Dove for a 9-2 advantage. Wofford left one runner on base in the eighth and left two on base in the bottom of the ninth.

Each starting pitcher was over 110 in the pitch count: Steven Hensley had 117 and Scott Summers had 118 pitches. Wofford left eleven runners on base, while Elon stranded seven. Elon had six stolen bases and Wofford had two.

The Terriers will close the series against Elon with two nine inning games on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm. Wofford will host Presbyterian College on Tuesday, March 25.