Box Score Game Box (pdf)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – In the opening game of a weekend Southern Conference series, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 4-3 by Furman at Latham Stadium on Friday night. The Terriers had a 3-0 lead, but the Paladins scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and once with two outs in the bottom of the ninth for the win.
Wofford is 18-27 overall and 5-17 in the Southern Conference. Furman is 21-24 overall and 8-14 in league play. The Terriers were led by James Plaisted with two hits, while pitcher Brandon Yarusi went 8.1 innings with five strikeouts. The Paladins were led by Taylor Johnson with three hits.
The Terriers had the first hit of the game in the top of the second on a single by Josh Hyman. Taylor Johnson had the first hit for the Paladins in the bottom half of the second. Wofford had two players reach base on walks in the top of the third inning, but were unable to score a run.
Furman left two runners on base in the bottom of the third inning, both of whom reached on walks. Wofford added a hit in the top of the fifth by David Roney. In the top of the sixth, James Foster led off with a single and Matthew Pelt reached on an error. The runners advanced on a passed ball and a ground out by Mac Doyle drove in the first run of the game.
In the top of the seventh with two out, James Plaisted singled to right field. Matt Moore then hit his first home run of the season over the left field fence to take a 3-0 lead. It was the fourth career homer for Moore. The Paladins answered with a solo home run to left by Paul Nitto to make it a 3-1 game. Chris Ohmstede added a single which scored Taylor Johnson to make it 3-2. A safety squeeze by Heath Burton plated the tying run to make it 3-3 after seven innings.
Wofford had one runner on base in the top of the eighth after Mac Doyle was hit by a pitch. In the top of the ninth, Eric Brenk walked and James Plaisted added a single, but both runners were left on base. Furman led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single by Taylor Johnson and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs and two on base, Will Owens hit a single and a throwing error allowed the winning run to score in a 4-3 contest.
Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (4-6) went 8.1 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. He has gone eight or more innings in four of his last five outings. Alex Wilson threw the final two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit.
Furman starter Bobby Lyne worked 6.2 innings and gave up four runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Stephen Gary (2-0) went 2.1 innings and allowed one hit with four strikeouts.
The Terriers are now 1-8 in SoCon games decided by one run. Wofford will continue the three-game Southern Conference series at Furman on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
