Box Score Game Box (pdf)
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – With three runs scored in the seventh, the Wofford College baseball team defeated Western Carolina 5-2 at Hennon Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Mac Doyle had three RBIs for the Terriers and the pitching staff recorded nine strikeouts without a walk to pick up the first win over the Catamounts since 2002.
Wofford is 10-21 on the season and 4-8 in the SoCon, while Western Carolina is 21-9-1 overall and 5-6-1 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with three hits and three RBIs, including two doubles. Kyle Behrendt added two hits and two RBIs. For the Catamounts, Tyler White and Tyler Kirkpatrick each had two hits.
The Terriers had the first hit of the game with a single by Mac Doyle in the top of the second and the Catamounts added a single in the bottom of the second. Wofford had two runners reach on walks in the top of the third, but both were left on base. Western Carolina hit two singles in the bottom of the third however neither scored.
Wofford left two on base in the top of the fourth on a single by Konstantine Diamaduros and a walk issued to Michael McDonnell, while the Catamounts returned the favor with two left on base in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Matt Moore walked and moved to second on a balk. With two out, Kyle Behrendt hit a single to left field to score Moore and give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. Mac Doyle added a double off the wall in left field to bring in Behrendt for a 2-0 advantage, but two more runners were left on base.
To begin the seventh, James Foster was hit by pitch and Alex Lee was safe at first with a bunt. Both runners advanced on a balk and Kyle Behrendt then had a single drop in shallow left field to score Foster. A double to the right center wall by Mac Doyle drove in two more runs and a 5-0 advantage at the seventh inning stretch.
The Catamounts opened their half of the seventh with a solo home run by Tyler Kirkpatrick to left center and a double off the wall by Austin Schultz. A ground-out by Russell Robertson drove in a second run for a 5-2 score after seven complete.
Wofford added one hit in the top of the eighth by Josh McKinney, but he was left on base. Ollie Goulder added a hit for the Catamounts in the bottom of the eighth and moved to third on a wild pitch, however he was stranded to end the inning.
In the ninth, the Terriers went down in order in the top half of the inning and the Catamounts went down in order as well for a 5-2 final score.
For the Terriers, starter John Cornely (2-5) went 6.1 innings with seven hits allowed, two runs scored and six strikeouts. Cash Collins forced two ground-outs in his two-thirds of an inning. Drew Sheridan picked up his second save of the season with one hit allowed in two innings and three strikeouts.
Western Carolina starter Vance Chavis (2-4) threw 4.2 innings and allowed four hits and two runs with four walks and seven strikeouts. Kyle Stewart walked the one batter he faced. Mat Batts picked up three strikeouts in 1.1 innings with two hits and three runs allowed. Brandon Johnson allowed two hits in 2.1 innings with one strikeout. Daniel Ottone picked up two outs in the top of the ninth.
With the win, the Terriers ended a 23-win streak in the series by the Catamounts. The last win by Wofford in the series was on March 17, 2002 (12-10) which was also played in Cullowhee.
Wofford return home Wednesday night to face East Tennessee State at 7:00 p.m. before a three-game series at the College of Charleston that begins on Friday night.
