Box Score Box Score (.pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday evening, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 14-5 in its season opener by the Dayton Flyers at Russell C. King Field. The Flyers used a 10-run sixth inning to retake the lead and then pull away from the Terriers.
Wofford is now 0-1 on the season and Dayton is 1-0 overall. The Terriers had two players with three hits each and two with two hits. Aaron Huesman led the Flyers with two homeruns and seven RBIs on the night.
The Flyers took the first lead in the ball game at the top of the third inning, 2-0. A.J. Ryan hit an RBI single with one out scoring Robby Sunderman from second. Then Huesman singled to center to score Alex Harris. Dayton ended the third with three hits and two men left on base.
In the top of third, the Terriers then responded with two runs of their own to tie the game back up, 2-2. Senior center fielder Josh Hyman led off with a single to center and then sophomore designated hitter Alec Paradowski singled down the right field line. Both runners advanced an additional base on a throwing error by the right fielder. Senior second baseman Seth Neely would then record an RBI as he grounded out to the shortstop to score Hyman and advance Paradowski to third. Junior first baseman Conor Clancy would then knock in Wofford's final run of the inning as his single down the right field line scored Paradowski from third.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning that the Terriers took their first lead of the game, 3-2. Sophomore left fielder Demetrius Jennings led off the inning singling through the left side. After Jennings advanced to second on a ground out, Neely took advantage with a runner in scoring position knocking in Jennings with an RBI single to left field.
Dayton would respond with a huge 10 run inning in the sixth to take a commanding 12-3 lead over Wofford. After the Flyers loaded the bases, Kuris Duggan tied the score at 3-3 when he singled to the left scoring the tying run at third. Dayton then took the lead, 4-3, with one out in the inning as Sunderman was walked with the bases loaded. Dayton would highlight its 10 run inning with a grand slam from Huesman, his first home run of the game.
The Flyers would tack on two more runs in the seventh to make the score 14-3 after Huesman hit his second homer of the game with a man on base and two outs.
The Terriers scored their final runs of the ballgame in the eighth and ninth innings to make the final score 14-5. Junior right fielder James Plaisted flied out to center field scoring Neely from third base with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and Paradowski scored Jennings from third with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
Wofford starter Matthew Milburn (0-0) went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Jesse Morris (0-1) threw 0.1 innings and took the loss giving up four runs on one hit with one strikeout. Will Stillman pitched 0.2 innings giving up three runs on one hit, and Merritt Huber gave up three runs on two hits. Chris Sheehan took the mound for 1.1 innings giving up two runs on two hits and had two strikeouts. Connor Foltyn and Jordan Accetta pitched each of the final two innings and they both pitched shutout innings.
Dayton's starter Noah Buettgen (1-0) threw six innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts. Nick Gobert went three innings with four hits allowed and gave up two runs.
Wofford will host Ball State on Sunday for a 2:30 p.m. contest. On Monday the Terriers will take on Morehead State for a 5 p.m. matchup at Russell C. King Field.
