Game Box (pdf)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Tuesday evening, the Wofford baseball team won 7-6 on a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth over USC Upstate at Russell C. King Field. The Spartans scored three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game before Eric Brenk hit a bases loaded single in the bottom half of the inning to drive in the winning run.

Wofford is 18-26 overall and USC Upstate is 29-13 overall. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with three hits and three RBIs on the night, while four other players had two hits each. The Spartans were led by Gaither Bumgardner with a five-for-five performance and one RBI. The teams combined for 31 hits on the night and the Spartans left 18 runners on base.

The Spartans loaded the bases in the top of the first inning and a sacrifice fly by Greg Guers scored a run for a 1-0 lead. Three runners were left on base at the end of the Spartans half of the inning.

In the top of the second, Austin Liput hit a single that drove in runners from second and third to take a 3-0 lead. Wofford got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. Stephen Cantrell walked and moved to third on a double by James Foster. An RBI single by Matthew Pelt scored Cantrell for a 3-1 score. Mac Doyle then hit a home run over the left center fence which scored three runs for a 4-3 Wofford lead.

The Spartans loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with three walks, but all three were stranded. In the bottom of the seventh, Wofford loaded the bases on three walks. James Plaisted hit a two-out single through the right side to score two runs as the Terriers took a 6-3 lead.

In the top of the eighth, the Spartans loaded the bases on a single and two walks, but a strikeout ended the scoring chance. Wofford left two on base in the bottom of the eighth inning. USC Upstate had two singles in the top of the ninth when a single by Gaither Bumgardner scored a run for a 6-4 score. A double down the left field line by Austin Liput added a run to make it a 6-5 game. With the bases loaded and one out, a wild pitch allowed the tying run to cross the plate. The Spartans left two on base at the end of the top of the ninth.

The Terriers opened the bottom of the ninth with a single by Mac Doyle. A single up the middle by Konstantine Diamaduros moved Doyle to third base and an intentional walk to Josh Hyman loaded the bases with nobody out. With one out, Eric Brenk hit a ball that bounced off the left center fence to drive in the winning run in the 7-6 victory.

Wofford starter Gus White threw 4.2 innings and scattered eleven hits with three runs scored along with two strikeouts. Ryan Traylor went 1.1 innings and did not allow a hit. J.D. Osborne added an inning and did not allow a hit. Eric Eck went 1.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Alex Wilson (2-3) picked up the win with two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit.

USC Upstate starter Scott DeCecco worked two innings and allowed two hits with two strikeouts. Brandon Lee threw 2.1 innings and gave up four runs on five hits with two strikeouts. David Roseboom went 1.2 innings with one hit and three strikeouts. Jake Waller added a third of an inning and allowed two runs on three walks. Andrew Wyant (0-2) went 1.3 innings and gave up five hits with two strikeouts. Chad Sobotka had one strikeout and allowed one hit in a third of an inning.

The Terriers won both games this season against the Spartans. Wofford will travel to Greenville to face Furman in a three-game Southern Conference series beginning on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and continue on Saturday and Sunday.