Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team was defeated 13-10 by Old Dominion on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Monarchs scored two runs in each of the first four innings to take an 8-0 lead, but the Terriers fought back with seven runs in the final three innings.
Wofford is now 20-35 on the season and Old Dominion is 29-24 overall. The Terriers were led by Matthew Pelt with two hits and three RBIs. The Monarchs came up with twenty hits on the night, the most by a Wofford opponent this season. Ben Slaton led Old Dominion with three hits and six RBIs.
The Monarchs opened the game with back-to-back singles. Michael Perez and Austin McGowan each had RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After Wofford was retired in order, Old Dominion used back-to-back solo home runs by Ben Verlander and Josh Eldridge for a 4-0 advantage in the second inning.
Old Dominion pushed the lead to 6-0 on a two-run homer by Ben Slaton in the top of the third inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Austin McGowan and Ben Slaton added RBI singles to make it an 8-0 contest. Wofford led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single by Seth Neely. A walk and single by Alec Paradowski loaded the bases. Matthew Pelt hit a double to left center to clear the bases, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. At the end of five innings, the Monarchs had an 8-3 advantage.
In the top of the sixth, Old Dominion loaded the bases on a single and two walks. A single by Jordan Negrini plated one run. A double by Ben Slaton drove in three runs for a 12-3 lead. Old Dominion added a solo home run by Josh Eldridge in the top of the seventh for a 13-3 advantage.
Wofford had singles from Alec Paradowski and Matthew Pelt in the bottom of the seventh. A two-out single by Matt Moore drove in both runners to make it a 13-5 game. Old Dominion loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with nobody out, but were unable to plate a run. The Terriers added a run on a sacrifice fly by Alec Paradowski in the bottom of the eighth for a 13-6 score.
The Monarchs loaded the bases again in the top of the ninth inning with one out, but stranded all three runners. Wofford had Matt Moore reach on a walk and Derek Hirsch hit a double to left field to drive the run for a 13-7 score. Matt Ramsay walked, which was followed by an RBI single from Josh Hyman. Seth Neely then singled up the middle to score two runs for a 13-10 final score.
Wofford starter Jesse Morris (7-6) went three innings and allowed six runs on ten hits with three strikeouts. He ends the season with 102 strikeouts, second-most in the Division I era at Wofford. Matthew Milburn threw an inning and gave up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Connell Anderson was on the mound for an inning with four runs allowed on three hits. Connor Foltyn threw two innings and gave up one run on three hits with one strikeout. Bradley Evsich went a career-long two innings and did not allow a hit with three strikeouts.
Old Dominion starter Andy Roberts (5-3) threw six innings with three runs allowed on three hits and two strikeouts. Brad Gero worked an inning and allowed two runs on four hits. Victor Diaz threw an inning and allowed one run. Brandon Smith went a third of an inning with three runs scored on one hit along with a strikeout. Jake Josephs threw the final two-thirds of an inning with one run allowed on two hits with one strikeout.
The final game of the season will be on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Old Dominion at Russell C. King Field. Prior to the game the squad’s six seniors will be honored.
