Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday evening, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 5-3 by Morehead State at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers scored first in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Eagles scored the next five runs. A ninth inning rally by Wofford fell short with the winning run on first base.
Wofford is 0-3 and Morehead State is 1-3. The Terriers had four players with one hit each and Alec Paradowski had the lone RBI. Tyler Bigler and Kane Sweeney each had two hits for the Eagles. Pitchers Tyler Keele and Luke Humphreys combined to strike out 13 Wofford batters.
Both teams had one runner reach base in the first inning. After Morehead State was retired in order in the top of the second, Eric Brenk was hit by pitch to start the bottom of the inning. Brenk stole second and Carson Waln walked, then both players advanced on a passed ball. However, they were stranded at the end of the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Morehead State stranded a runner after a single through the left side. Wofford was retired in order to end the fourth inning. Morehead State loaded the bases with two hit batters and a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance.
Wofford led off the bottom of the fifth with a bunt single by Derek Hirsch. He advanced to second, stole third base, and scored on a wild pitch to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. Morehead State tied the game in the top of the sixth on a fielding error. With the bases loaded, a single by Blaine Tanner drove in two runs for a 3-1 lead.
The Terriers began the bottom of the sixth with a walk to James Plaisted, followed by a single from Eric Brenk. Matt Ramsay walked to load the bases with two outs, but the inning ended with the runners stranded. Morehead State added two runs on a double by Chris Robinson for a 5-1 advantage. The Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with one out, but all three were stranded to end the scoring threat.
Matt Pelt was hit by a pitch to give the Terriers a base runner in the bottom of the eighth, but he was left on to end the inning. Morehead State was retired in order to begin the ninth inning. Demetrius Jennings had a double in the bottom of the ninth and Josh Hyman walked. Alec Paradowski reached first on a fielding error, which scored by Jennings and Hyman for a 5-3 score. The bases were loaded with two outs after a single by James Plaisted and walk to Eric Brenk, but a strikeout ended the game.
Wofford pitcher Connell Anderson (0-1) went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs, only one of them earned, on two hits. John Caskey allowed two hits in a third of an inning. Jacob Condra-Bogan gave up two runs on two hits in an inning. Connor Foltyn struck out one batter in a third of an inning. Elliot Lance worked two-thirds of an inning and allowed one hit. Merritt Huber did not allow a runner in the ninth inning.
Morehead State starter Tyler Keele (1-0) threw 5.0 innings and allowed one run on one hit with seven strikeouts. Luke Humphreys got the save by going four innings with two runs on three hits and five strikeouts.
The Terriers will host Gardner-Webb on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. as the seven-game home stand to begin the season continues.
