Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 10-8 by Gardner-Webb on Wednesday evening at Russell C. King Field. Wofford had a 4-2 lead before the Runnin’ Bulldogs scored four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to pull away for the win.
Wofford is 11-25 on the season, while Gardner-Webb is 17-19 overall. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with three hits, including a home run, and five RBIs. Adam McFarland had three hits for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
In the top of the first, Daniel Merck opened the game with a double and he scored on a single by Kurt Fulginiti. Wofford answered in the bottom of the first when James Foster singled and Alex Lee was hit by a pitch. Mac Doyle brought in both runners on a home run to right center for a 3-1 lead.
Gardner-Webb got one run back in the top of the third on a solo home run by Jake Watts to make it a 3-2 game. The Terriers responded with a solo home run by Alex Lee in the bottom of the third inning for a 4-2 lead. It was Lee’s first home run of the season and third of his career.
Neither team scored in the fourth or fifth innings. In the top of the sixth, an RBI single from O.J. McFarland scored one run. A single from Zeke Blanton added a run, which was followed by an RBI single from Aaron Miller. With the bases loaded, Jake Watts was hit by a pitch to bring in another run and it was a 6-4 lead for Gardner-Webb.
The Terriers opened their half of the sixth with a walk to Kyle Behrendt and he moved to second on a wild pitch. A single by Mac Doyle scored Behrendt. A single by Landon Bennett and a walk to Konstantine Diamaduros loaded the bases with no outs for Wofford. A walk to Neil Robinette brought in one run, however back-to-back fielder’s choices had runners out at home and a fly ball ended the inning with three runners stranded and the score tied.
In the top of the seventh, Ty Boyles had a lead-off solo home run to make it a 7-6 game. After a double and a walk, a wild pitch scored one run. A throwing error by the Terriers allowed two more runs to score and the Runnin’ Bulldogs had a 10-6 lead.
Wofford added a run in the bottom of the seventh when Alex Lee was hit by a pitch and a triple down the right line by Kyle Behrendt scored Lee. Mac Doyle then added a single to bring Behrendt across the plate to make it a 10-8 game. Both teams went down in order in the eighth inning.
Gardner-Webb added a hit in the ninth, but Matt Sapp was caught stealing to end the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Adam Izokovic struck out the Terriers in order to end the game at 10-8.
For the Terriers, starter Gus White went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Ryan Traylor and Pete Noordsy both added outs in a third of an inning each. Bobby Streisel and J.D. Osborne combined to give up four hits and four runs. Anthony Rowland (1-2) went 1.1 innings with four runs allowed on two hits, however only one run was earned. He added three strikeouts. Cash Collins went 1.1 innings and had two strikeouts, while Drew Sheridan threw the ninth with one hit allowed and a strikeout.
Gardner-Webb starter Michael Hanzlik went five innings with four hits and five runs allowed with two strikeouts. Emilio Pagan gave up two hits and a run, while Brandon Boling (2-1) went an inning and allowed two hits and two runs. Jeff Howell added two strikeouts in two innings and Adam Izokovic picked up the save with three strikeouts in the ninth.
Wofford will head to UNC Greensboro on Friday for the start of a three-game conference series. It will be the third straight conference road series for the Terriers.
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