Box Score Game Box (pdf)
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford College baseball team had ten hits, but were defeated 8-2 by Western Carolina at Hennon Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Terriers recorded at least one hit in all but the first inning, however the Catamounts used a three run homer in the sixth to put the game away.
Wofford is 9-21 on the season and 3-8 in the SoCon, while Western Carolina is 21-8-1 overall and 5-5-1 in conference play. The Terriers were led by David Roney with three hits, while Mac Doyle had a solo home run. The Catamounts were led by Tyler Kirkpatrick with four hits and four RBIs.
The Catamounts scored first when in the bottom of the second when Cameron Dullnig had a single, then stole second and advanced to third on an error. A single by Russell Robertson drove in Dullnig for a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Kyle Behrendt hit a double to center but James Foster was tagged out at home on the play. The Catamounts added to the lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by Tyler White, which was followed by an RBI single by Tyler Kirkpatrick for a 3-0 advantage.
Mac Doyle got the Terriers on the board in the top of the fourth with a solo home run over the left field wall. It was his 13th home run on the season, which is tied for the Southern Conference lead. The Catamounts answered with a lead-off solo home run by Matt Johns in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-1 lead. Western Carolina loaded the bases on a double, hit by pitch and single, but all three were left on base to end the inning.
Western Carolina loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth with one out. Tyler White reached on a fielder’s choice to score one run. With two out, Tyler Kirkpatrick cleared the bases with a three-run homer over the left field wall to take an 8-1 lead.
In the top of the eighth, James Foster had a double and scored on a single down the right line by Alex Lee for an 8-2 score. Kyle Behrendt added a single, but the Terriers left two on base. In the top of the ninth, Taylor Rozier reached on a walk and David Roney singled to lead off the inning, but both runners were stranded to end the game.
For the Terriers, starter J.D. Osborne (3-1) went 5.2 innings and allowed eight runs on eleven hits with seven strikeouts. Anthony Rowland did not allow a hit in 2.1 innings of work with two strikeouts.
Western Carolina starter Matt Benedict (4-0) threw 7.1 innings and allowed only two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Mat Batts allowed one hit to the one batter faced in the eighth. Jeremy Sluder went two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout. T.J. Page allowed two hits in the top of the ninth, while Adam Curtis got the final three outs with two strikeouts.
Wofford concludes the three-game series at Western Carolina on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The Terriers return home Wednesday night to face East Tennessee State.
