Box Score Game Box (pdf)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – To wrap up the weekend, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 8-7 in eleven innings by Valparaiso at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers scored three runs in the first inning, but two runs by the Crusaders in the eighth tied the contest. In the eleventh, Valpo scored three runs that the Terriers were not able to match despite a two-run homer by Mac Doyle.

Wofford is 6-5 overall and Valparaiso is 4-4 overall. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with two home runs on the day and three RBIs. Matthew Kaskow added three hits, while Eric Brenk had two hits and two RBIs. The Crusaders were led by Chris Manning with four hits and Bobby Martin with three hits and three RBIs. Wofford left ten runners on base, including three in the bottom of the ninth.

In the bottom of the first, Wofford had Matthew Kaskow reach on an error and Mac Doyle was hit by a pitch. After a double steal, a single up the middle by Eric Brenk scored both runners. A double by David Roney scored Brenk for a 3-0 lead. The Crusaders scored in the top of the third when with runners on the corners Chris Manning hit a single to right field made it a 3-1 contest.

The Terriers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with a walk and two singles. A sacrifice fly by James Foster drove in one run for a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Mac Doyle hit a solo home run to left center to increase the lead to 5-1.

Valpo added a run in the top of the sixth when Bobby Martin hit an RBI single to left field to make it 5-2. In the top of the seventh, an RBI single by Chris Manning scored Tanner Vavra from second base to cut the advantage to 5-3.

The Crusaders had two runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning when a sacrifice fly by John Loeffler made it a one run game at 5-4. A single to right field by Tanner Vavra drove in a run to tie the game at five and Valpo left the bases loaded to end their half of the inning. Wofford left one on base in the bottom of the eighth.

After Valpo was retired in order in the top of the ninth, Wofford led off with a single by Matthew Pelt and Matthew Kaskow beat out a throw to first. Mac Doyle was hit by pitch to load the bases with two outs, but a diving catch in left field prevented the Terriers from plating a run.

The Crusaders and Terriers each left one runner on base in the tenth inning. In the top of the eleventh, Valpo had a single and a double to put runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly by Elliott Martin plated a run to give the Crusaders a 6-5 lead. Two more runs scored when Bobby Martin hit a single with the bases loaded. Wofford was able to score two runs in the bottom of the eleventh with a two-run homer by Mac Doyle over the left field fence.

Wofford starter Pete Noordsy went 4.1 innings and allowed four hits and one run along with one strikeout. Ryan Traylor threw 1.1 innings and gave up a run on one hit with a strikeout. Dominick Del Monte allowed one hit and Anthony Rowland worked a third of an inning. Alex Wilson worked an inning and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Eric Eck (2-1) went the final four innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Valpo starter Kevin Wild went six innings and allowed five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Sean Kennedy worked an inning and gave up one hit with two strikeouts. Jarad Miller (2-0) went three innings and did not allow a run on three hits with four strikeouts. Kevin Upp recorded the save by working the eleventh with two runs on two hits and a strikeout.

Next week the Terriers host Gardner-Webb on Wednesday at Russell C. King Field, then will play Presbyterian College at Fluor Field in Greenville on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. Beginning Friday, Wofford will host Eastern Kentucky for a three-game series.