Box Score Game Box (pdf)

STATESBORO, Ga. – In the first Southern Conference game of the season, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 7-2 by Georgia Southern on Friday night at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Terriers scored first, but three runs in the second inning by the Eagles gave them a lead they would not relinquish.

Wofford is now 7-7 on the season and 0-1 in SoCon play. Georgia Southern is 7-6 and 1-0 in conference action. The Terriers were led by Josh Hyman and Seth Neely with two hits each, while Brandon Yarusi struck out nine batters. The Eagles were led by Ben Morgan with four hits and three RBIs.

In the top of the first, Matthew Kaskow led off with a hit by pitch. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a throwing error. Seth Neely added a hit for the Terriers but was left on base. Georgia Southern tied the game at one with a solo home run by Chase Griffin in the bottom of the first.

The Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning. A single by Brent Pugh drove in two runs and an RBI single by Ben Morgan made it a 4-1 game. Both teams were retired in order in the third inning. Josh Hyman opened the fourth inning with a single, but the Terriers were unable to cut into the lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Georgia Southern added a run on a sacrifice fly from T.D. Davis for a 5-1 advantage. Demetrius Jennings reached on an error in the top of the sixth, moved to second on a ground out and was on third after a wild pitch. A single up the middle by Josh Hyman drove in Jennings for a 5-2 score. Seth Neely added a single to put runners on the corners, but both were left on base.

Georgia Southern left two on base in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh. Wofford led off the top of the eighth with a walk to Demetrius Jennings, but a double play ended the scoring chance. The Eagles loaded the bases on three walks in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, a single by Ben Morgan through the left side drove in two runs for a 7-2 lead. In the top of the ninth, the Terriers were retired in order.

Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (0-2) went six innings and gave up five runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. Connell Anderson threw an inning and gave up two runs on one hit. Tanner Hawley worked an inning and gave up one hit with two strikeouts.

Georgia Southern starter Sam Howard (3-1) went eight innings and allowed two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. Evan Challenger threw the ninth and had two strikeouts.

The Terriers and Eagles will play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and then on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. to complete the three game series.