Box Score Game Box (pdf)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Friday night, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 5-0 by Samford at Russell C. King Field. After the start of the game was delayed by over an hour due to rain, Bulldog pitcher Kyle Putkonen held the Terriers without a hit until the eighth inning.

Wofford is 9-13 overall and 0-4 in conference play. Samford is 14-8 overall and 5-2 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle and James Plaisted with hits. Brandon Yarusi sent seven innings with nine strikeouts on the mound. The Bulldogs had three hits each from Zeth Stone and Brad Moss, while Moss also had two RBIs.

The Bulldogs had two hits in the top of the first inning, but both runners were stranded. In the top of the third, Samford had two runners on base after a walk and a bunt single. A double by Brad Moss scored both runners for a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs added a run on a solo homer by Kevin Putkonen for a 3-0 advantage. Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the fourth, as Mac Doyle reached on a walk.

Samford added a run in the top of the eighth on a double by Phillip Ervin. A single by C.K. Irby scored Ervin from second to take a 5-0 lead. The Bulldogs left two on base to end their half of the eighth.

The Terriers got their first hit of the night in the bottom of the eighth on a single up the middle by James Plaisted, but Wofford left two runners on base. In the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs stranded two runners. The Terriers added a hit in the bottom of the ninth, but left two on base at the end of the game.

Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (2-2) went seven innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He tied a career-high with nine strikeouts and only issued two walks. Pete Noordsy worked an inning and gave up two runs on three hits with one strikeout. Ryan Traylor struck out the one batter he faced. Dominick Del Monte allowed one hit in a third of an inning. Connell Anderson picked up the final out for Wofford.

Samford starter Kyle Putkonen (1-3) went 7.1 innings before allowing a hit. On the night he struck out four and walked three. Arthur Strauss threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit. Gil Walker went the ninth and allowed one hit with a strikeout.

Wofford will continue the three-game series with Samford on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field at 3:00 p.m., with the final game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.