Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Sunday afternoon, the Wofford baseball team defeated Presbyterian College 8-7 at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers scored five runs in the seventh for an 8-2 lead, but the Blue Hose answered with five in the top of the eight for an 8-7 score. Eric Eck entered the game in the top of the ninth and preserved the win for the Terriers.
Wofford moves to 4-3 on the season and Presbyterian is 4-2-1. The Terriers were led by Eric Brenk with three hits, while Demetrius Jennings had two RBIs. The Blue Hose had two hits each by Brandon Paul and Brandon Martin.
The Blue Hose were retired in order to open the first inning. Josh Hyman led off for Wofford with a single up the middle however he was stranded to end the first. In the top of the second, Presbyterian had back-to-back singles but both were left on base.
In the top of the third, the Blue Hose took advantage of two Wofford errors and scored two unearned runs for a 2-0 lead. The Terriers left one on base in the bottom of the third. Presbyterian stranded two runners and Wofford left one on in the fourth inning.
Presbyterian had two on base in the top of the fifth with no outs, but stranded both runners. To start the bottom of the fifth, Matt Ramsay reached second on an error. Derek Hirsch singled and a ball up the middle by Kody Ruedisili scored Ramsay. A fielder's choice by Josh Hyman scored Hirsch to make it a 2-2 game.
The Blue Hose were retired in order in the top of the sixth. Wofford had runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Alec Paradowski reached first on an error and Eric Brenk scored from second base on the play for a 3-2 lead. Presbyterian left a runner on third in the top of the seventh.
Wofford had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the seventh. A bunt single by James Plaisted scored Josh Hyman from third for a 4-2 lead. A double to centerfield by Eric Brenk drove in a run for a 5-2 advantage. A single by Demetrius Jennings added two runs for a 7-2 score, while Kody Ruedisili reached on an error that allowed a fifth run to score in the inning and an 8-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth, the Blue Hose had the bases loaded with two outs. A walk allowed one run to cross the plate and a single up the middle drove in two runs for an 8-3 score. A single, double, and single made it an 8-7 game in the middle of the eighth. Wofford had a runner thrown out at home to end the bottom half of the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, Eric Eck walked the first batter. After a strikeout, a double play ended the game.
Wofford pitcher Connell Anderson worked four innings and allowed three hits and two unearned runs along with three strikeouts. Elliot Lance went 3.2 innings with four runs allowed on two hits and a strikeout. Lance (1-0) earned his first collegiate win. Quintin Pile allowed three hits and a run. Will Stillman struck out the one batter he faced. Eric Eck pitched the ninth and had one strikeout to pick up his fourth save of the season.Â
Presbyterian starter Hayden Deal (0-1) threw 5.1 innings gave up five hits and three runs, only one of which was earned. Deal also had two strikeouts and two walks. Ethan Wortkoetter went an inning and allowed three runs on one hit with two strikeouts. Aaron Lesiak had a third of an inning and allowed two runs on two hits with one strikeout. Michael Trebendis went the final 1.1 innings and gave up one hit with one strikeout.
The Terriers will play the first road game of the season on Tuesday night at Charleston Southern. Wofford returns home to host Longwood for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday evening.
