Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game One Box
Game Two Box

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Wofford College baseball team split a conference doubleheader with Elon on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Phoenix took the first game 12-5, but the Terriers rebounded in the second game to win 8-7 in a dramatic eleven inning contest.

Wofford is now 15-7 on the season and 1-2 in the Southern Conference, while Elon is 19-4 and 4-2 in conference play. The Terriers were led Michael Gilmartin who was 4-of-8 in the two games. For Wofford, game one starter Ben Austin had two strikeouts and game two starter Tom Dolinak had six strikeouts. Each Wofford starter went over 100 pitches.

In game one, the Phoenix took a 4-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of doubles by Donny Jobe and Bennett Davis. In the bottom of the second, the Terriers got one run back when Kyle Behrendt had a fly ball drop in for a base hit which scored Mo Seay. However the Terriers ended the inning with three men left on base.

For Wofford in the bottom of the third, Michael Gilmartin bunted to lead off and he was driven home with a blast over the centerfield wall by Shane Kirkley for a 4-3 score. After a scoreless fourth, the Phoenix got things going again in the top of the fifth. Bennett Davis hit a single to drive in a run and Ryan Adams hit a single down the left field line to bring in two runs and take a 7-3 lead.

Elon continued to add runs to the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when Bennett Davis hit a three-run homer to take a 10-3 lead. Wofford got one run back with a solo home run by Jake Williams in the bottom of the sixth.

In the seventh for the Terriers a single by Kyle Behrendt scored one run, but two runners were left on base. The Phoenix added runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to take game one 12-5.

In the second game, Elon scored one run in the opening frame. The Terriers answered in the bottom of the second when Mo Seay hit a solo homer to left center. In the top of the third, the Phoenix added a run on a fly out by Cory Harrilchak to score Chris Dove and then Bennett Davis hit a home run to left center for a 4-1 lead.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Wofford was able to tie the game in the sixth. Jake Williams led off with a walk, then Sterling Dye singled. A single by Michael Gilmartin scored Williams from third. With two out, Adam Kearney walked to load the bases. Kyle Behrendt walked, which allowed Dye to score. Neil Robinette came in to pinch hit and singled to score Gilmartin and make it a 4-4 game.

The Phoenix went three-up and three-down in the seventh inning. Wofford loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to break the tie. In the top of the eighth, Bennett Davis opened with a single. With two out, Dallas Tarleton singled to score two runs. A single by Chris Dove scored another run to take a 7-5 lead.

Wofford was able to get one run back in the eighth inning when Keith Munns pinch hit and blasted a shot to left center. The Terriers allowed only one hit in the top of the ninth and went to the bottom of the frame down three runs.

With one out, Michael Gilmartin doubled to centerfield. Shane Kirkley was up next and hit a home run to right center to tie the game at 7-7. Adam Kearney added a single, but was left on base at the end of the inning.

Both teams went to extra innings for the first time this season. The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out in the top of the tenth. Donny Jobe hit a fielder’s choice, with the runner out at home. Greg Annarummo came in to pinch hit and struck out the end the inning with three runners left on base.

The Terriers went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the tenth, but the Phoenix could only get one runner on base in the top of the eleventh on a walk.

Sterling Dye opened the eleventh by being hit by a pitch. Shane Kirkley was intentionally walked and then the Terriers had two on with two out. Adam Kearney walked to load the bases. Kyle Behrendt came to the plate and the count reached 3-2 before taking ball four and walking in the winning run for Wofford.

In the second game, the Phoenix used seven pitchers while the Terriers used only two. Wofford left twelve on base, while Elon stranded twelve.

Wofford will host Presbyterian College on Tuesday, March 25 before heading to Davidson for a three-game series beginning on Friday evening.