Box Score Game Box (pdf)
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 7-5 by Georgia Southern on Sunday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium despite outhitting the Eagles. Down two runs, Wofford left the bases loaded in the seventh and had the tying run at the plate in the ninth before a double play ended the game.
Wofford is now 7-9 on the season and 0-3 in SoCon play. Georgia Southern is 9-6 and 3-0 in conference action after the series sweep. Four Terriers had two hits each, including Josh Hyman with a three RBI home run. Chase Griffin, Robbie Dodds, and Arthur Owens each had two hits and two RBIs for the Eagles.
The Eagles scored first when Chase Griffin hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Wofford led off the third inning with a double by Demetrius Jennings and he moved to third on a wild pitch. A double play ended the scoring chance for the Terriers.
In the bottom of the third Georgia Southern loaded the base with a single, hit by pitch, and a walk, but all three runners were stranded. The Eagles added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Brent Pugh hit a solo home run to left center. Chase Griffin and Robbie Dodds added RBI singles to push the lead to 4-0. Arthur Owens then singled up the middle to drive in two runs for a 6-0 score.
Wofford led off the sixth inning with a single by Matthew Kaskow and Alec Paradowski reached on an error. Josh Hyman then cleared the left field wall for his third home run of the season to cut the lead to 6-3. Matthew Ramsay and Eric Brenk added singles and a sacrifice bunt by Matthew Pelt scored Ramsay from third for a 6-4 score.
Georgia Southern left one on base in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Matthew Kaskow reached on an error and Alec Paradowski doubled. An intentional walk to Josh Hyman loaded the bases with one out, but the Terriers were unable to plate a run.
The Eagles got one run back on a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh by Robbie Dodds for a 7-4 lead. In the top of the eighth, James Plaisted doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Demetrius Jennings to make it a 7-5 score. Georgia Southern left two on base in the bottom of the eighth. Wofford opened the ninth inning with a single by Alec Paradowski, but a double play ended the game.
Wofford starter Luke Leftwich (1-1) went 4.1 innings and gave up six runs on six hits with five strikeouts. J.D. Osborne worked 1.2 innings with two hits allowed and one strikeout. Matt Milburn went a third of an inning with one run scored on two hits. Eric Eck threw the final 1.2 inning and did not give up a hit with three strikeouts.
Georgia Southern starter Justin Hess (1-2) threw five innings with four hits allowed and three strikeouts. Evan Challenger went an inning with four runs allowed on four hits with one strikeout. Chris Myers worked 1.2 innings with one run allowed on three hits with one strikeout. Matt McCall picked up the save by going 1.1 innings and giving up one hit with a strikeout.
Wofford returns home on Tuesday against UNC Asheville at 6:00 p.m. and will host Presbyterian on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m.
