Box Score Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was downed 15-5 by Georgia Southern on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Eagles had three players hit home runs and used seven runs in the top of the fourth to take a 9-0 lead on the way to the victory.
Wofford is now 20-23 on the season and 4-12 in the Southern Conference, while Georgia Southern is 23-18 on the season and 8-8 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Keith Munns with two doubles, Michael Gilmartin with two hits and Josh McKinney with a home run.
The first two innings were scoreless, with Wofford leaving three on base and Georgia Southern leaving four stranded. In the top of the third, the Terriers walked in one run for the Eagles and David Richardson hit a fielder’s choice to score a run for a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Eagles broke the game open. Ty Wright hit a two run homer to left center. Griffin Benedict singled to score a run. A home run by A.J. Wirnsberger to left center scored three more runs with only one out. A single by Brian Pierce added a run to make it a 9-0 game.
Wofford got two of the runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Michael Gilmartin led off with a double, followed by a walk from Jake Williams. A double to right center by Keith Munns scored both runners for a 9-2 score.
The Eagles wasted little time to add to the lead, scoring five more runs in the top of the seventh. A single from Griffin Benedict scored one run, then a single from Jeremiah Parker added another run. David Richardson hit a blast to center field to score three runs for a 14-2 game.
In the eighth, Georgia Southern added one more run on a sacrifice fly from Will Southwell. In the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Behrendt led off with a double. Ryan Toniolo reached base after being hit by a pitch. Josh McKinney came to the plate and hit a home run to left field to score three runs. However that was all the damage Wofford could do in the ninth and were defeated 15-5.
Wofford pitcher Scott Summers went 3.1 innings and gave up nine runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Reid McElveen threw 3.0 innings with four strikeouts and six hits with five runs. Drew Sheridan went 1.2 innings with one hit and one run, while Mo Seay went one inning without a hit.
For Georgia Southern, starter threw six innings with five hits, two runs and eight strikeouts. Trent Franzago went two innings with three strikeouts and Dave Rigdon threw in the ninth with two hits and three runs.
Wofford left six runners on base, while Georgia Southern stranded eleven. The Terriers committed four errors, while the Eagles had two. Freshman Josh McKinney hit his first career home run in the bottom of the ninth. Sophomore Mo Seay saw his first collegiate inning on the mound in the top of the ninth and did not allow a hit.
Wofford will host Georgia Southern again on Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm to complete the three-game series.
