Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a game that was not decided until the bottom of the ninth, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 7-6 by Appalachian State on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers held a 5-0 lead after six innings, but the Mountaineers scored all seven runs in the final three frames.
Wofford moves to 17-36 on the season and 9-19 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State is 33-16-1 overall and 12-14-1 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Kyle Behrendt with three hits and David Roney with two RBIs on a home run in the fourth inning. The Mountaineers were led by Jack Myers with two hits and two RBIs.
After three scoreless innings in which the teams combined to strand seven runners, Wofford broke open the scoring in the bottom of the fourth. With Landon Bennett on base after a single, David Roney hit his third home run of the season to right field to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Mountaineers loaded the bases on two walks and a single, but a double play ended the scoring chance. In the Wofford half of the inning, James Foster single, stole second and moved to third on an error. Mac Doyle singled to drive in Foster. Konstantine Diamaduros reached first on an error and a single by Landon Bennett to right field scored Doyle for a 4-0 advantage. After a pitching change, a double steal resulted in Diamaduros scoring from third and Bennett moving to second to add a run to the lead.
Both teams left one runner on base in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, a walk and double by Wes Hobson gave the Mountaineers two runners in scoring position. An RBI single by Jerrod Faggart scored both runners to make it a 5-2 game.
Appalachian State was able to tie the game in the top of the eighth when a single and walk gave Chris Alessandria two on base when he hit a home run to left center field to make it 5-5.
Wofford regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Clark Wise walked and stole second. A pinch-hit single by Michael McDonnell scored Wise for a 6-5 lead. In the top of the ninth, the first two Appalachian State batters walked and they moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Zupcic. A single by Jack Myers scored both runners for the 7-6 advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Behrendt singled and Konstantine Diamaduros walked, but a ground-out ended the game.
For the Terriers, John Cornely started and went 6.2 innings with five hits allowed and one run scored along with two strikeouts. Cash Collins allowed two hits and one run in a third of an inning, while Bobby Streisel allowed three hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Ryan Traylor picked up one out, while J.D. Osborne allowed one walk. Drew Sheridan (2-6) got the final three outs but allowed one hit and one run.
Appalachian State starter Matt Andress threw 4.2 innings with nine hits and five runs allowed with two strikeouts. Will Helms went 1.1 innings and allowed one hit with one strikeout, while David Port went an inning and allowed only one hit. Taylor Miller allowed one hit and one run in two-thirds of the eighth inning. Chris Patterson (3-2) went the final 1.1 innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
The Terriers will complete the regular season with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday against Appalachian State. Wofford can still finish either eighth or ninth in the Southern Conference standings. If the Terriers win both games on Saturday and Furman is defeated at UNC Greensboro, Wofford will earn the eighth spot. In any other scenario, the Terriers will finish ninth. Appalachian State locked up the seventh seed with the win.
