Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the first game of the weekend SoCon series, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 8-5 by the College of Charleston on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. Seven of the eight runs scored by the Cougars were with two outs on the board.
Wofford is now 19-23 on the season and 6-13 in the Southern Conference. College of Charleston is 28-15 overall and 12-7 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Matt Moore and Alex Lee, each with two hits. The Cougars had three hits from Kolby Epley and Jamie Holler, while Daniel Aldrich had three RBIs.
In the top of the second with two outs, the Cougars had a single and a double. Cole Rakar then hit a single to center that cleared the bases for a 2-0 lead. A double by Rob Harding scored Rakar as he beat the throw to the plate for a 3-0 advantage. In the bottom of the second, James Foster reached on an error and then moved to second on a balk. A double by David Roney to left center scored Foster for a 3-1 game.
The Terriers opened the bottom of the third with a single by Alex Lee and Josh McKinney was hit by a pitch. A single by Konstantine Diamaduros with one out loaded the bases. A walk issued to Mac Doyle scored one run for a 3-2 score, but the Terriers left the bases loaded.
College of Charleston had two singles to lead off the top of the fourth. A throwing error scored one run in the inning for the Cougars to make it a 4-2 game. In the top of the fifth with two outs, two Cougars were walked. Daniel Aldrich then hit a three-run homer to center field to push the lead to 7-2.
Wofford got one run back in the bottom of the sixth when James Foster singled and then scored when Josh Hyman singled along with a throwing error for a 7-3 score. A single that dropped into center field by Matt Moore scored Hyman and a double by Alex Lee drove in Moore to cut the lead to 7-5 after six innings.
Cole Rakar hit a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Cougars an 8-5 lead in the top of the seventh. Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the eighth, the first two Cougars reached base but a double play ended the scoring chance.
In the top of the ninth, the Cougars had two players left on base. Alex Lee was hit by pitch to open the bottom of the ninth for the Terriers, which was followed by a single by Clark Wise. With the tying run at the plate, a strikeout and a double play ended the ballgame.
Wofford starter Cash Collins (7-2) went five innings and allowed nine hits and seven runs, along with two strikeouts. Jesse Morris threw two innings and gave up two hits and one run with four strikeouts. Ryan Traylor faced two batters and Pete Noordsy went the final two innings without allowing a hit.
College of Charleston starter Josh Renfro (7-2) threw six innings and gave up five runs on eight runs with six strikeouts. Casey Lucchese picked up his second save of the season by going three innings and allowing only one hit with three strikeouts.
The Terriers will continue the series against the Cougars on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. On Wednesday, May 4, Wofford hosts South Carolina at Russell C. King Field at 7:00 p.m.
