Box Score Game Box (pdf)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Wofford baseball team was defeated 5-1 by Samford on Sunday afternoon at J.L. Griffin Stadium. The Terriers had base runners early in the game, but stranded seven runners as the Bulldogs were able to win the weekend series.
Wofford is now 22-30 on the season and 9-18 in the Southern Conference. Samford is 32-20 overall and 16-11 in conference play. The Terriers were led by James Foster and Landon Bennett, each with two hits. Saxon Butler had two hits and three RBI for the Bulldogs.
The Terriers opened the game with a double by James Foster, but he was stranded at third to end the top of the first inning. In the second inning, Wofford had three straight singles from Josh McKinney, David Roney and Landon Bennett to load the bases. A double play ended the inning without scoring a run.
Wofford added another hit by James Foster in the top of the third, but he was left on third to end the scoring chance. In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. After a strikeout for the second out, Saxon Butler hit a double that cleared the bases for a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Terriers left two runners on base. Wofford got on the board in the top of the fifth when Mac Doyle walked with two out and scored when Konstantine Diamaduros hit a triple down the right line for a 3-1 score. Samford added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Phillip Ervin to take a 4-1 lead.
Both sides were retired in order in the seventh inning. In the bottom of the eighth, the Bulldogs added a run on an RBI single by Kevin Putkonen to push the lead to 5-1. Wofford went down in order in the top of the ninth to end the contest.
Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (1-5) threw 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Drew Sheridan went 2.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Samford starter Kyle Putkonen went three innings and allowed five hits. C.K. Irby (5-1) threw four innings and gave up one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Grant Sides added an inning without a hit and a strikeout. Andrew Jones closed the game with an inning of work with one strikeout and no hits allowed. Samford pitchers retired the last eleven Wofford batters in order.
The Terriers are tied for eighth place in the SoCon standings with Western Carolina, however the Catamounts have the tiebreaker over the Terriers. The Citadel is one game back in the battle for the final spot in the SoCon Tournament. After taking a week off for exams, the final home series will begin on Friday, May 20 against UNC Greensboro at 7:00 p.m.
