Box Score Box Score
TEMPE, Arizona – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 12-4 by top-ranked Arizona State University on Wednesday night at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. The Terriers tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning, but could only add two more runs in the time-limited contest.
Wofford is now 17-11 on the season and 3-3 in the Southern Conference, while Arizona State is 27-1 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-10. The Terriers were led by Kyle Behrendt with a two-run homer and an RBI single. Arizona State was led by Ike Davis with two home runs and five RBIs. The game was called after seven innings for time due to both teams needing to travel.
The Sun Devils opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run homer over the right fence by Petey Paramore for a 2-0 lead. Wofford was able to tie the game in the top of the third when Jake Williams reached first after being hit by a pitch and then Kyle Behrendt hit a long ball over the right fence for a 2-2 game.
In the bottom of the third, Brett Wallace hit a double, which was followed by a double by Petey Paramore to score Wallace. Ike Davis then hit a two-run homer to right field for a 5-2 lead.
With the bases loaded and one out for the Sun Devils in the bottom of the fourth, Brett Wallace drove in one run on a sacrifice fly. Petey Paramoure drove in another run to take a 7-2 lead.
For Wofford in the top of the fifth, Sterling Dye reached on a double off the wall in left center. Kyle Behrendt added a single up the middle to score Dye and make it a 7-3 game. A walk by Michael Gilmartin and a single by Shane Kirkley loaded the bases, but the Terriers left all three runners on at the end of the inning.
Arizona State loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Chip Hunt came in and got a strikeout to end the inning. Wofford opened the top of the sixth with Adam Kearney reaching on an error. He later advanced to second on a wild pitch and was driven home by a single from Sterling Dye to make it a 7-4 game.
The Sun Devils added three runs on a home run by Ike Davis over the right field fence to take a 10-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Terriers batted in the top of the seventh and Neil Robinette reached on a triple to deep center field, but was unable to score.
Arizona State added a run on a double by Mike Jones in the bottom of the seventh and Greg Bordes scored on an out by Ike Davis for the 12-4 final score.
For Wofford, starting pitcher Jordan Mickleberry went 3.1 innings and gave up seven runs with two strikeouts. Pete Noordsy threw 1.1 innings with a strikeout and two hits allowed. Chip Hunt went 0.1 innings and allowed three runs with a strikeout. Dawson Smith threw 0.1 innings and allowed two runs. Michael Gilmartin came in to close the game and got the final two outs.
Arizona State starter Stephen Sauer went 2.1 innings with one hit, two earned runs and five strikeouts. Tommy Rafferty came in and went 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and one run allowed. Reyes Dorado played 1.1 innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts. Matt Newman allowed one hit with two strikeouts in 1.0 innings of work.
Wofford left eight men on base, while Arizona State also stranded eight runners. The Sun Devils stole four bases, while the Terriers had three stolen bases. Wofford made numerous changes to the batting order for the game, with only Sterling Dye (1) and Jake Williams (9) hitting in the same spot as the game Tuesday night.
The Terriers faced a team that was ranked number one in the nation for the first time in school history. The Sun Devils are ranked first (unanimous) by all five major polls. The trip to Arizona State is the longest ever taken by the Terrier baseball team. Wofford flew back immediately following the game.
The Terriers return to Russell C. King Field on April 4 for the start of a three-game conference series against The Citadel.
