Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the season opener for the Wofford baseball team, a safety bunt by Eric Brenk in the tenth inning gave the Terriers a 6-5 win over Georgetown on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Hoyas scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game, but Wofford was able to come away with the victory.
Wofford begins the season 1-0, while Georgetown is 0-1. For the Terriers, Alec Paradowski and Eric Brenk each had two hits and an RBI, while Seth Neely drove in two runs. The Hoyas were led by Ryan Busch with two hits and three RBIs.
The Hoyas had singles in the first, second and third innings. Wofford had their first hit of the season on a double by Stephen Cantrell in the bottom of the third. Cantrell moved to third on a wild pitch and was driven home on a single up the middle by Clark Wise. Wise scored on a ground out by Josh Hyman to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Brandon Yarusi struck out the side in the top of the fourth. After Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the fourth, Georgetown got on the board with a solo home run by Ryan Busch to left center. In the bottom of the fifth, singles by Alec Paradowski and Josh Hyman gave Wofford runners at second and third. A single by Seth Neely drove in both runners for a 4-1 lead.
A double play ended the sixth inning for the Hoyas. In the bottom of the sixth, a double down the left line by Alec Paradowski scored Matthew Kaskow for a 5-1 lead. In the top of the seventh, Georgetown scored four runs on only one hit due to two walks, a hit batter and an error to tie the game at 5.
In the top of the ninth with two outs, the Hoyas loaded the bases but a ground ball ended the scoring chance. Wofford was struck out in order in the bottom of the ninth and the game went to extra innings.
Georgetown loaded the bases with two outs after a double, intentional walk and a hit by pitch, but a fielder’s choice ended the scoring chance. Wofford opened the bottom of the tenth with Seth Neely reaching second base on an error. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Ramsay and Luke Feisal was intentionally walked. With one out, Eric Brenk put down a safety bunt to score Neely for the victory.
Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi went six innings and gave up one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. J.D. Osborne worked two-thirds of an inning and allowed four unearned runs on one hit with three walks. Freshman Matthew Milburn (1-0) went 3.1 innings and allowed only one hit with two strikeouts.
Georgetown starter Jack Vander Linden went 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Tim Davis threw 1.1 innings and gave up one run on one hit with two strikeouts. Neal Dennison worked three innings with one hit and four strikeouts. Charlie Steinman (0-1) gave up one run in a third of the tenth inning.
Wofford will host Niagara on Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at noon. The start time has been changed due to weather.
