Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team needed ten innings to pick up the first win of the season 9-8 over Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. After singles by Alex Lee and Kyle Behrendt in the bottom of the tenth, Mac Doyle hit a single to right field to bring in the winning run.
Wofford is 1-2 on the season, while Pittsburgh is 2-1. The Terriers were led by Matt Moore with three hits and three RBIs and Landon Bennett with two hits and three RBIs. The Panthers were led by Joe Leonard with three hits and two RBIs and Zach Duggan with two hits and three RBIs.
The Panthers had their first two batters reach on a walk and hit by pitch. An error allowed one run to score, while a ground out by Kevan Smith brought in another run for a 2-0 lead without a hit. Wofford answered with two hits in the bottom of the first, but did not score.
To open the bottom of the second, James Foster was hit by pitch and stole second. A single up the middle by Landon Bennett scored Foster. David Roney and Matt Moore added singles, but the Terriers left the bases load at the end of the second.
Wofford left two runners on in the third. In the bottom of the fourth, the Terriers tied the game. David Roney opened the inning with a walk and moved to third on a double by Matt Moore. Kyle Behrendt hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Roney to make it a 2-2 game.
Pittsburgh stranded two runners in the top of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Pitt opened with a double and a single. A ground out by Zach Duggan scored one run. With one out and two on base, the Panthers hit into a potential double play, however a Wofford error allowed another run to score. A double by Joseph Leonard scored more two runs as the Panthers took a 6-2 lead.
The Terriers answered in the bottom of the seventh. After walking the two lead-off hitters, Konstantine Diamaduros singled to left center to score Alex Lee. A single by James Foster loaded the bases. Kyle Bennett came to the plate with two outs and hit a single to left to score two runs. With the bases loaded, Matt Moore hit a double down the right field line to score three runs as Wofford took a 8-6 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Travis Whitmore was called out after stepping out of the batter’s box. Pittsburgh head coach Joe Jordano was ejected from the game after questioning the call. The Panthers responded with a double by Philip Konieczny and then Zach Duggan hit a home run to left center to tie the game at 8-8.
After neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings, the game headed to the tenth. The Panthers had two hits in the top of the inning, but a double play ended their half of the inning. With one out, Alex Lee and Kyle Behrendt had singles for the Terriers. Mac Doyle then hit a ball to deep right field that allowed Lee to score and end the game with a 9-8 victory.
Wofford starter J.D. Osborne went six innings with three strikeouts and two runs allowed. Anthony Rowland gave up three runs in a third of an inning, while Cash Collins allowed one run. Bobby Streisel went 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and two runs allowed. Gus White (1-0) got the win with a strikeout and only two hits allowed in an inning of work.
For the Panthers, Nathan Hood went six innings and allowed seven hits and two runs with seven strikeouts. Cole Taylor gave up four runs in a third of an inning, while Joseph Leonardi gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Jeff Kelly (0-1) went the final 2.1 innings and allowed three hits and one run.
The victory ended a 16-game winless streak for the Terriers dating back to April 21, 2009. Wofford returns to the diamond on Friday at 4:00 pm against Dayton, followed by a doubleheader against Butler on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm.
