Box Score Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 10-1 by #9 South Carolina on Wednesday evening at Sarge Frye Field. Justin Smoak had three home runs, including a grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead the Gamecocks with eight RBIs.

Wofford is now 20-22 on the season and 4-11 in the Southern Conference, while South Carolina is 31-11 on the season. The Terriers were led by Sterling Dye with two hits and Emre Caglayan with an RBI.

The Gamecocks got on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer over the right center fence by Justin Smoak. In the top of the second, Keith Munns was hit by a pitch and Neil Robinette and Mo Seay both walked to load the bases with one out. However Sam Dyson struck out the next two Terriers to leave three runners stranded.

South Carolina added a run in the bottom of the second when Reese Havens drove in Andrew Crisp with a single for a 3-0 lead after two. Neither team scored in the third inning. Scott Wingo hit a two-out solo home run to right center for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the fourth for a 4-0 lead.

Wofford picked up their first base hit of the night in the top of the fifth on a bunt single by Emre Caglayan and Sterling Dye hit a single in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Gamecocks loaded the bases with one out. Justin Smoak then hit his second home run of the night, this time to left center to score four runs and give South Carolina an 8-0 lead.

The Terriers had two runners in the top of the seventh as Keith Munns was hit by a pitch and Neil Robinette walked. Mo Seay reached on a single through the left side to load the bases with one out. A ground out to first by Emre Caglayan scored Munns, but the inning ended with two left on base with the score 8-1.

South Carolina added two runs in the bottom of the eighth when Justin Smoak hit his third home run of the night for a 10-1 lead. Wofford added a single from Keith Munns in the top of the ninth, but was left on base.

Wofford pitcher Jordan Mickleberry went 5.0 innings with nine hits, four runs and three strikeouts. Pete Noordsy threw for a third of an inning and gave up four runs on two hits. John Cornely got two outs in the sixth. Ben Austin struck out three straight batters in the seventh. Dawson Smith went the eighth inning with three hits and two runs.

For South Carolina, starter Sam Dyson threw 6.0 innings and allowed only two hits with six strikeouts. Sean Wideberg went an inning with one hit and one run. Alex Farotto threw the eighth with one hit and a strikeout and Craig Thomas went the ninth with one hit and two strikeouts.

Wofford left six runners on base, while South Carolina stranded nine. The Terriers committed the only error of the night. Michael Gilmartin led off the order for the Terriers for the first time this season. Emre Caglayan was caught stealing for the first time this season; he is now 11-of-12 in stolen bases. The announced attendance of 5,124 is the largest crowd so far this year to see the Terriers.

The Gamecocks, ranked ninth, were the third team that the Terriers have faced this season with a national ranking. Clemson was #17 and Arizona State was #1 when they played the Terriers. Wofford and South Carolina will meet again on May 7 at Russell C. King Field.

Wofford will host Georgia Southern in a three-game Southern Conference series beginning Friday night at 7:00 pm. The teams will also play on Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.