Box Score Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team defeated Pittsburgh 6-1 Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field after being forced to push the game to a 5:00 p.m. start due to rain. The Terriers posted five runs in the first three innings, scoring three in the first inning and a single run each in the second and third. Wofford grabbed their sixth run in the seventh inning and beat the Panthers, 6-1 after only allowing Pittsburgh one run in the third inning.
Wofford is now 7-4 on the season, while Pittsburgh drops to 3-2. The Terriers were led by Josh McKinney with two runs scored and Landon Bennett with three RBI’s. David Roney led the team in hits with two. The Panthers were led by John Schultz with three hits and Anthony Defabio accounted for their only run scored.
The Terriers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first as two hits and an error by the Panthers led to three runs scored. James Foster led off and reached first on an error by Pittsburgh’s shortstop, Derik Wilson. Taylor Rozier singled and McKinney loaded the bases after reaching first off a wild pitch on the last strike. Bennett batted all three base-runners in off a double to right center field, giving the Terriers a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Wofford left one on base at the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Matt Moore singled off a hit to right field, Lee reached on a walk and Foster loaded the bases off a well-placed bunt. Doyle reached on a fielder’s choice, but Moore was forced out at home. With the bases still loaded, Diamaduros batted in Lee off a sacrifice fly. The Terriers ended the inning with two left on base and a 4-0 lead.
Pittsburgh tallied their only run of the day in the top of the third inning. Pittsburgh’s Kevan Smith singled up the middle, but was forced out when Anthony Defabio hit into a fielder’s choice. With Defabio on first, Toole advanced his teammate on a walk. Pittsburgh’s Wilson singled up the right side to right field and pushed in Defabio. Toole tried to score on the play as well, but was thrown out off the relay from Wofford’s Alex Lee. The play ended the inning and put the score at 4-1 Wofford.
Wofford added their fifth run in the bottom of the third. McKinney reached first after being hit by a pitch. Bennett hit the ball to the second baseman and reached first off the fielder’s choice. The Panthers tried for the double play off Bennett’s hit and were successful in getting McKinney out, but the second baseman threw a wild throw to first, allowing Bennett to reach second. Roney earned the RBI after batting Bennett in off a double to the left field line. The Terriers ended the inning with one left on base, but had improved their lead to 5-1.
The next three innings were scoreless and Wofford added their final run of the afternoon in the seventh inning. Wofford put McKinney, Bennett and Roney on off of walks to load the bases. Moore earned the RBI after he was walked as well, giving the Terriers a 6-1 score. The Terriers left three on base at the end of the seventh and there were no more runs scored for the remainder of the contest, ending the game with a 6-1 final score.
Wofford starter Cash Collins (3-0) threw six innings with one run allowed on seven hits and three strike outs. Bobby Streisel went two innings and only allowed one hit with three strikeouts. John Cornely pitched the final inning and didn’t allow any hits with one strikeout.
For the Panthers, starter Matt Iannazzo pitched 6.1 innings with seven hits and six runs allowed. Five of the runs were earned and Iannazzo finished with five strike outs. Jeff Kelly came in and allowed two walks before being replaced by Cole Taylor. Taylor threw 1.2 innings and didn’t allow any runs or hits.
The Terriers finish the weekend series against the Panthers, 1-1, after being forced to cancel one of the scheduled games due to weather conditions. Wofford will travel to second-ranked Vanderbilt on Wednesday, March 8. The game is set to start at 5:00 p.m. ET.
