Box Score Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 16-8 by Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Ronnie Childress Field at Hennon Stadium. The Terriers had a 5-2 lead after two innings, but the Catamounts scored three or more runs in the next four innings on the way to the win.

Wofford is now 21-27 on the season and 4-16 in the Southern Conference, while Western Carolina is 23-24 overall and 9-11 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Sterling Dye and Keith Munns with three hits each, including a home run apiece. The Catamounts out-hit the Terriers 21 to 15 in the game.

The Terriers had a single from Michael Gilmartin in the first inning, but was left on base. The Catamounts answered with a solo home run by Brent Greer. Western Carolina added two more singles, but did not extend the 1-0 lead after one inning.

Keith Munns tied the game with a solo home run over the left center field wall in the top of the second. The Terriers loaded the bases with Mo Seay being hit by a pitch, a single up the middle by Josh McKinney and Alex Lee hit by a pitch. A single to left field by Sterling Dye added a run. Kyle Behrendt reached on a two-base error to scored two runs. Michael Gilmartin drove in a run on a ground out for a 5-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Ryan Mathews hit a double and was driven in with a single from Nick Liles to make it a 5-2 game after two complete. Wofford added a double from Mo Seay in the top of the third. Barrett Shaft hit a single for the Catamounts and was driven in with a double by Reid Rollison. A single by Stephen Notaro to right field scored two runs to tie the game at 5-5 after the third inning.

Wofford added another double in the top of the fourth by Kyle Behrendt. The Catamounts took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Brent Greer, his second of the game, for a 6-5 advantage. With the bases loaded, a single by Ryan Mathews scored two runs to go up 8-5 after four innings.

The Terriers led off the fifth with a single from Shane Kirkley. A home run over the right center fence by Jake Williams scored two runs to cut the lead to 8-7. However the Catamounts answered with five doubles and a single to tack on five runs for a 13-7 lead after five.

Sterling Dye hit a home run over the left wall to lead off the sixth inning for the Terriers. In the bottom of the sixth, Barrett Shaft hit a three-run homer over the right fence for a 16-8 lead.

Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth innings. In the ninth, Wofford loaded the bases with Keith Munns being hit by a pitch and singles from Mo Seay and Josh McKinney, but the Terriers were unable to score a run and the Catamounts won 16-8.

Wofford starter Ben Austin went 4.1 innings with twelve hits, nine runs allowed and three strikeouts. Pete Noordsy threw 0.2 innings with five hits, four runs and a strikeout. Drew Sheridan pitched the sixth inning and allowed three runs on two hits. Reid McElveen threw the seventh with only one hits allowed. Dawson Smith came in for the eighth inning and allowed one hit with one strikeout.

For Western Carolina, starter Garrett Ozar threw the first four innings with nine hits, seven runs and three strikeouts. Chris Masters picked up the win with five innings of work, allowing six hits, one run and striking out six.

The game had been moved to a 2:00 pm start, however due to rain on Saturday afternoon it was determined that the game would begin at 6:00 pm, the original start time. Keith Munns and Sterling Dye hit their fourth home runs of the season. Jake Williams hit his tenth home run of the season. Shane Kirkley has played in 208 career games, tied for most in school history with Strat Stavrou. The eight doubles hit by Western Carolina were the most by a opponent this season. Wofford has lost 15 straight games to the Catamounts, dating back to the 2002 season.

Wofford and Western Carolina will conclude the series on Sunday at 2:00 pm. The Terriers return home on May 7 to host South Carolina at 7:00 pm.