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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior closer Eric Eck entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs and never looked back earning his school record 20th career save as the Wofford baseball team defeated the Butler Bulldogs, 6-2, at Russell C. King Field on Saturday afternoon. 20 career saves passes Michael Gilmartin's (2007-09) 19 for the most career saves in Wofford baseball history.
The Terriers have now won three consecutive games improving their record to 3-3 overall and the Bulldogs fall to 1-3 with the loss. Offensively, Wofford was led by senior second baseman Seth Neely who went 4-4 and had three runs batted in, including a 2-run homer in the seventh inning to push the Terriers to a 6-2 lead.
Wofford got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the opening inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Senior left fielder Josh Hyman hit a leadoff single up the middle and Neely batted him home as he clobbered a double with one out to center field. Sophomore Demetrius Jennings then hit a double down the left field line with two outs to score Neely.
Butler then cut the Terriers lead to one as the leadoff hitter Chris Maranto hit a sacrifice fly to right scoring Marco Caponi from third. The Bulldogs couldn't muster a tying run in the inning as they left one on base heading into the bottom half of the third.
Neely's big day would continue as he led Wofford's response in the bottom half of the third with a leadoff single and a stolen base. After advancing to third on a groundout, senior third baseman Eric Brenk singled up the middle to score Neely extending Wofford's lead 3-1. The Terriers then pushed across another run to make the score 4-1 as Jennings scored from second on a single from freshman catcher Carson Waln.
Ryan Wojciechowski brought the Bulldogs within two again scoring from third on Austin Miller's groundout to the pitcher making the score 4-2 in the top of the fourth inning.
Wofford then extended its lead again in the seventh inning. After Alec Paradowski singled to left field and advanced to second on a passed ball, Neely stepped up to the plate a bombed a 2-run homer over the left field wall extending the Terriers' lead, 6-2.
Eck came into the game for a save situation in the eighth inning as Butler loaded the bases with one out. Eck's first batter flied out to the shortstop and then he rung up his second batter for the third out of the inning and escaped the bases loaded jam.
The record breaking save was then earned in the ninth as Eck got the final three outs facing four batters. He struck out the first, walked the next two, and forced Marcos Calderon to ground out into a double play to end the ballgame.
Wofford's sophomore starting pitcher Luke Leftwich (1-0) had a solid outing as he worked 4.2 innings and gave up two runs on three hits and four strikeouts. Sophomore Connor Foltyn pitched a third of an inning without allowing a base runner. Freshman Merritt Huber pitched a full inning facing five batters and striking out one and sophomore Will Stillman faced seven batters in 1.1 innings of work. Eck picked up his third save of the season going 1.2 innings not allowing a hit and had three strikeouts.
Butler starter Kyle Kramp (0-1) pitched 4.1 allowing four runs on nine hits and six strikeouts. Billy Laing finished out the game pitching 3.2 innings and gave up two runs on three hits and three strikeouts.
The Terriers will wrap up the weekend on tomorrow as they host Presbyterian College at 4 p.m. at Russell C. King Field.
