Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game One box (pdf)
Game Two box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a Saturday doubleheader, the Wofford baseball team split the pair of games with Western Carolina at Russell C. King Field. In the first game, the Catamounts won 4-2. Wofford held on for a 6-5 win in the second game, as the Catamounts scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning. The Terriers won the weekend series over Western Carolina for the first time since joining the Southern Conference.
Wofford is 13-19 overall and 3-9 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina is 22-11 overall and 7-5 in conference play. The Terriers were led by the pitchers in both games, as Jesse Morris went 7.2 innings in the first game with six strikeouts and Cash Collins went 7.2 innings in the second game with nine strikeouts.
In the first game, Wofford led off the bottom of the first with a triple by James Foster and he scored on a ground out by Mac Doyle for a 1-0 lead. The Catamounts tied things up with a solo home run by Adam Martin in the top of the second.
The Catamounts took a 2-1 lead after a solo home run by Julian Ridings in the top of the third inning. In the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings Wofford was held to two hits while the Catamounts had only one during the four innings stretch.
In the top of the eighth, Tyler White singled with two outs. A double off the top of the left field fence by Jacob Hoyle scored White to take a 3-1 lead. Wofford opened the bottom of the eight with a single by Matthew Pelt and Matt Moore followed with a single. A walk to Matthew Kaskow loaded the bases. A ground out by James Foster scored Pelt for a 3-2 score. An intentional walk to Mac Doyle loaded the bases, but the Terriers left all three runners stranded.
Western Carolina loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on an error and two walks. A sacrifice fly by Cody Jones drove in a run, but the Catamounts left two on base with a 4-2 lead. The Terriers led off the bottom of the ninth with a single by Eric Brenk, but a strikeout and double play ended the contest.
Wofford starter Jesse Morris (2-2) worked 7.2 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits along with six strikeouts. J.D. Osborne went two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout and one unearned run allowed. Pete Noordsy pitched the final two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit.
Western Carolina starter Morgan McKinney (4-1) went seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Preston Hatcher recorded his sixth save of the season by going two innings with one hit allowed and striking out two.
In the second game, Western Carolina left one runner on base in the top of the first. Wofford opened the contest with a walk to James Foster and he moved to third on a throwing error. A double by Konstantine Diamaduros scored Foster and a sacrifice fly by Eric Brenk pushed the lead to 2-0.
After the Catamounts were retired in order in the top of the second, Matt Moore led off with a triple and a sacrifice fly by Matthew Kaskow made it a 3-0 game. Singles by James Foster and Konstantine Diamaduros, along with a double by Mac Doyle, pushed the lead to 4-0. A sacrifice fly by Eric Brenk gave the Terriers a 5-0 lead after two innings.
In the top of the fourth, Cody Jones walked and after a stolen base scored on an RBI single by Jacob Hoyle to make it 5-1. Wofford added a run in the bottom of the fourth when a ground out by Mac Doyle scored Matthew Kaskow for a 6-1 game.
Neither team scored in the fifth or sixth innings, but the Terriers left two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the eighth, the Catamounts had two singles but both were left on base. In the top of the ninth, Western Carolina had RBI doubles by Adam Martin and Bradley Strong to make it a 6-3 game with one out. A pitch hit with two outs up the middle by Luke Gragg added two runs for a 6-5 score. With two runners on base, a fly ball to James Foster in centerfield ended the game.
Wofford starter Cash Collins (3-4) went 7.2 innings and had a career-high nine strikeouts. Collins allowed only one run on four hits. Alex Wilson went a third of an inning and did not allow a hit. Eric Eck threw the ninth and gave up four runs on five hits with one strikeout.
Western Carolina starter Jeremy Null (4-1) went only 1.1 innings and gave up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Adam Curtis threw 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Vance Chavis threw the final two innings without allowing a hit.
Mac Doyle had two RBIs in the second game to become the Wofford career leader in RBIs with 179. He passed Shane Kirkley (2005-08) who had 178 in his career. James Foster and Mac Doyle are now tied for second in career hits with 239 each.
Next Wednesday the Terriers will host USC Upstate at 6:00 p.m. before facing Davidson in a three-game Southern Conference series beginning on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
