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CLINTON, S.C. – Seven home runs powered the Wofford College baseball team to a 9-7 win over Presbyterian on Tuesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex. The game was tied at seven when Jake Williams and Neil Robinette both hit home runs in the top of the ninth to secure the win.
Wofford is 17-18 on the season and 8-10 in the Southern Conference. Presbyterian is 8-29 overall and 4-16 in the Big South. The Terriers were led by Jake Williams with two home runs and three RBIs, while Neil Robinette added four hits and an RBI. The Blue Hose had two hits each from Cory Lyda and Kenny Bryant.
The Terriers loaded the bases in the first with two out, but hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. The Blue Hose scored in the bottom of the second inning when a single from Nate Horton scored Kenny Bryant from second base.
Wofford answered in the top of the third when Michael Gilmartin led off with a triple. Kyle Behrendt hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Gilmartin for a 1-1 score. In the top of the fourth, the Terriers took the lead on a solo home run by Mac Doyle over the left center fence.
Presbyterian had two outs and two runners on base when Jesse Harmon hit a ball over the left fence to score three runs and give the Blue Hose a 4-2 lead after four. Wofford got one run back in the top of the fifth with a solo shot by Kyle Behrendt to right field. Konstantine Diamaduros added a single before Jake Williams blasted a shot to left field for a two-run homer and a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Zac Rhinesmith tied the game with a solo home run over the left field fence. Wofford answered with a lead off home run in the top of the sixth by David Roney to take a 6-5 lead. The home run was the first of his career.
The Blue Hose loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth on an error and two walks. Kenny Bryant hit a single to score one run, and another run scored on the throw to home for a 7-6 lead. The bases were loaded again with another walk and two outs, but all three runners were left on base at the end of the sixth.
Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning, as Neil Robinette had the only hit between the two teams. In the eighth, Michael Gilmartin belted a solo home run to left to tie the game at seven apiece.
In the top of the ninth, Jake Williams led off the inning with a solo home run. With two out, Neil Robinette toasted a pitch over the right center fence for a 9-7 lead for the Terriers. The Blue Hose went one-two-three in the ninth to end the game.
Wofford starter Anthony Rowland made his first career start and went 3.2 innings with four runs allowed on eight hits with two strikeouts. Bobby Streisel threw 1.1 innings with one run on one hit. J.D. Osborne went two-thirds of an inning with two runs allowed on one hit with a strikeout. Drew Sheridan threw 2.1 innings without a hit and four strikeouts. Scott Summers pitched the ninth and did not allow a hit with a strikeout.
For the Blue Hose, starter Joe Hammond went four innings with nine hits and five runs allowed with one strikeout. Jordan Pace threw four innings and allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts. Micah Black entered in the ninth and allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts.
The seven home runs by the Terriers tied for the second-most in school history. Wofford hit eight home runs on March 15, 1992 against Longwood and had seven in 1987 against Allen and in 1992 against Quincy.
Wofford and Presbyterian will complete the home-and-home series on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm at Russell C. King Field in Spartanburg. The Terriers will then travel to Boone for a three-game weekend series against Appalachian State beginning on Friday night.
