Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team opened Southern Conference play with a 3-2 defeat in twelve innings to Furman on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers tied the game in the fifth inning, but neither team was able to add a run until the Paladins scored in the top of the twelfth for the victory.
Wofford is now 11-7 on the season and 0-1 in SoCon play, while Furman is 8-11 overall and 2-4 in the conference. The Terriers were led by James Foster with two hits and an RBI, while the pitching staff allowed only three runs and had nine strikeouts. The Paladins were led by J.B. Jenkins with two hits and an RBI.
In the top of the first, the Paladins got things started with an RBI single by Taylor Johnson. J.B. Jenkins reached on an error that allowed a runner to score for a 2-0 lead. Wofford answered in the bottom of the first with one run, as Konstantine Diamaduros singled to right field to drive in Clark Wise for a 2-1 score.
The second, third and four innings went by with neither team able to plate a run. In the bottom of the fifth, Matt Moore led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt single by Alex Lee. A ground-out by James Foster drove in Moore to tie the game at 2-2.
The teams were scoreless in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings, sending the game into the tenth inning. Furman left two runners on base in the top of the tenth and Wofford left two runners stranded in the bottom of the tenth.
In the eleventh, Furman had two hits and two runners were thrown out at the plate by the Wofford defense. With the Terriers at the plate in the eleventh, Mac Doyle led off with a single and with two outs, Josh McKinney hit a single to move Doyle to third. A pop fly ended the inning for Wofford.
Furman broke the tie in the top of the twelfth when with runners at first and third and two outs, Kevin O’Leary hit a single up the middle to score the runner from third. Wofford had one hit in the bottom of the inning, but came up short in the 3-2 loss.
For Wofford, starter Cash Collins went 7.1 innings with eight hits and two runs allowed along with five strikeouts. Bobby Streisel threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a base runner. John Cornely (1-1) went the final four innings and allowed one run on four hits with four strikeouts.
Furman starter Bobby Lyne threw nine innings and allowed two runs on just three hits with four strikeouts. Mat Plate and Stephen Gary combined to throw an inning with two hits allowed. Dylan Cole (1-0) went the final two innings and did not allow a run on three hits with two strikeouts.
The game was the second extra inning contest of the season for the Terriers. The weekend series against Furman will continue on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
