Box Score Game Box (pdf)
BOONE, N.C. – On Friday afternoon, the Wofford baseball team won 9-1 over Appalachian State at Smith Stadium. Brandon Yarusi threw the complete game for the Terriers and allowed only one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. Wofford had 15 hits in the contest.
Wofford is now 13-14 on the season and 4-6 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State is 12-9 overall and 4-5 in the league. The Terriers were led by Josh Hyman and Seth Neely with four hits each, while Clark Wise added three hits and two RBIs. The Mountaineers had two hits from Dillon Dobson.
With two outs in the top of the first, Josh Hyman was hit by a pitch and stole second. A single to left field by Seth Neely scored Hyman for a 1-0 lead. James Plaisted added a single and with runners at second and third an infield single by Clark Wise scored Neely to make it 2-0. The Mountaineers were retired in order in the bottom of the first.
After both teams went down in order in the second inning, Wofford had singles from Josh Hyman and Seth Neely in the third inning but did not score. In the top of the fifth, Matt Moore led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Alec Paradowski walked and a single by Josh Hyman scored Moore for a 3-0 advantage. A walk to Seth Neely loaded the bases with one out and a sacrifice fly by James Plaisted made it 4-0. Clark Wise added an infield single to push across another run before a double to left center by Luke Feisal scored two runs for a 7-0 lead.
The Mountaineers recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth with a triple by Dillon Dobson. A single by Preston Tiller scored Dobson for a 7-1 game after five innings. In the top of the sixth, Josh Hyman singled. Seth Neely singled on a hit and run, with Hyman able to score from third on a throwing error by the Mountaineers for an 8-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, Appalachian State led off with a single by Brandon Burris. He moved to third after a throwing error on a pick-off move, but was left on base at the end of the inning. The Terriers added a single by Clark Wise in the top of the seventh, but he was stranded.
Appalachian State had two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh after a hit by pitch and a single, but both were left on base. With two outs in the top of the eighth, Josh Hyman hit his fourth single of the day which was followed by Seth Neely’s fourth single. A single up the middle by James Plaisted scored Hyman for a 9-1 lead. The Mountaineers left one on base in the bottom of the eighth and Wofford left one in the top of the ninth. Brandon Yarusi struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth and a foul out ended the game.
Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (1-2) went the complete game and allowed only one run on four hits with nine strikeouts to only one walk. It was his third career complete game and first this season.
Appalachian State starter Jamie Nunn (5-2) went five innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts. Rob Howard worked two innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits with one strikeout. Tyler Jackson went an inning with one run allowed on three hits with two strikeouts. Caleb McCann threw the ninth and did not allow a hit with one strikeout.
The last win for Wofford in the series against Appalachian State was on May 17, 2008, a stretch of 13 games. The victory marked the Terriers first in Boone since March 19, 2005.
Wofford and Appalachian State will continue the series on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
