Box Score Game Box (pdf)
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Wofford College baseball team opened the Southern Conference slate on Friday night with a 9-7 loss at Davidson. The game was tied in the middle of the seventh inning, but the Wildcats added two runs in the bottom of the seventh and one run in the eighth for the win.
Wofford is 14-8 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Davidson is 12-6 overall and 4-0 in the SoCon, winning nine straight contests. The Terriers were led by Matt Ramsay with three hits, while Eric Brenk had three RBIs. The Wildcats had four hits from David Daniels and Andrew Pope had three hits, including two home runs.
The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the first inning. The Wildcats had a double and a single before scoring the first run of the game on a fielder's choice. An RBI single by Sam Foy made it a 2-0 lead for Davidson after one inning. In the bottom of the second, the Wildcats had back-to-back doubles and a walk to load the bases. A strikeout ended the scoring chance.
Dylan May had a double for the Terriers to lead off the third inning and James Plaisted reached on an error. A sacrifice fly by Matt Ramsay scored May from third for a 2-1 score. The Wildcats were retired in order to end the third inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Alec Paradowski led off with an infield single and Seth Neely doubled. A walk to Conor Clancey loaded the bases with no outs. A single by Eric Brenk drove in two runs for a 3-2 lead. James Plaisted reached on an error in which two runs scored to give the Terriers a 5-2 advantage in the middle of the fourth. Davidson wasted little time in getting two of the runs back when Andrew Pope hit a home run to right field to make it 5-4.
Wofford left one runner on base in the top of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats loaded the bases on a walk, single, and hit by pitch before a fielder's choice ended the inning. The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the sixth. Davidson led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and a single by Forrest Brandt drove in a run to tie the game at five. A sacrifice fly by Lee Miller gave the Wildcats a 6-5 advantage.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Dylan May doubled for Wofford. A single to centerfield by Matt Ramsay drove in May to tie the game at six. Ramsay moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt, but was stranded. The Wildcats added a double in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs. Another walk brought in one run and a hit by pitch plated a run for an 8-6 lead.
The Terriers led off the top of the eighth with two walks and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Eric Brenk scored one run to cut the lead to 8-7. Davidson added a run in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run by Andrew Pope, his second of the game, for a 9-7 advantage. Matt Ramsay singled with one out in the top of the ninth, but he was left on base to end the game.
Wofford pitcher Matt Milburn went 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on ten hits with two strikeouts. Merritt Huber threw a third of an inning without allowing a run. Jesse Morris (5-2) went 2.1 innings and gave up four runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Will Stillman walked both batters he faced. Connor Foltyn recorded one out. Elliot Lance allowed one run on two hits in a third of an inning. Jacob Condra-Bogan went the final two-thirds without allowing a runner.
Davidson starter Rob Bain threw 6.1 innings with six runs allowed on seven hits and three strikeouts. Cody White (1-1) worked two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit. Matt Saeta allowed one run on two walks. Michael Goldberg went the last two innings allowing only one hit to earn his second save of the season.
The Terriers will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Next week Wofford travels to Gardner-Webb on Wednesday.
