Box Score Game Box (pdf)
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – On Friday night the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 6-1 by Western Carolina at Hennon Stadium. The Terriers scored first, but the Catamounts scored six unanswered runs over the final six innings to take the first game of the series.
Wofford is now 20-32 on the season and 10-18 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina is 34-17 overall and 19-6 in league play to sit in first place. The Terriers were held to just two hits in the game as Catamount starter Jeremy Null struck out ten batters.
The Terriers left one runner on base in the top of the first inning. Western Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first, but a strikeout ended the scoring chance. Both teams were retired in order in the second inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, the Catamounts had back-to-back singles before a strikeout ended the inning. In the top of the fourth, Alec Paradowski walked and a single by Seth Neely gave the Terriers runners on the corners. A ground out by James Plaisted scored Paradowski for a 1-0 lead. The Catamounts tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Dykota Spiess. An RBI single by Aaron Attaway gave Western Carolina a 2-1 lead after four innings.
Wofford stranded one runner in the top of the fifth inning and Western Carolina was retired in order in the fifth. The Catamounts loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with a hit by pitch and two walks. A sacrifice fly by Cody Jones made it a 3-1 game at the end of six innings.
In the top of the seventh, Wofford left one runner on base. Western Carolina added two singles in the bottom of the seventh inning. A two-out single by Bradley Strong drove in a run to push the lead to 4-1. The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the eighth. The Catamounts plated two more runs in the bottom of the eighth on an error and an RBI single by Julian Ridings for a 6-1 advantage. In the top of the ninth, Josh Hyman was hit by a pitch and a double by James Plaisted put the runners in scoring position with one out. Two infield ground outs ended the game with a 6-1 final score.
Wofford starter Luke Leftwich (2-5) threw five innings with two runs allowed on five hits along with four strikeouts. J.D. Osborne went three innings and allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
Western Carolina starter Jeremy Null (7-2) went 8.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits with ten strikeouts. Preston Hatcher recorded the final two outs.
Wofford will continue the series on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The final two games of the regular season will be on May 17 and 18 against Old Dominion at Russell C. King Field.
