Box Score Game Box (pdf)
DAVIDSON, N.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford baseball team won 20-7 over Davidson at Wilson Field. The Terriers plated five runs in the sixth inning, four in the eighth, and six in the ninth to even the weekend series with the Wildcats at one game each.
Wofford is 15-8 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. Davidson is 12-7 overall and 4-1 in the SoCon. The loss ended the Wildcat's nine-game winning streak. The 20 runs by Wofford were the most in a game this season and the most since 2009. The 20 runs were the most in a Southern Conference contest since scoring 25 against Davidson in 2006.
The Terriers were led by James Plaisted with the first two home runs of his career, including a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning, to record six RBIs. Conor Clancey added four hits and three RBIs and Eric Brenk scored four runs. The Wildcats had two hits and three RBIs by Ben Arkin to lead the team.
Conor Clancey led off the top of the second with a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole for a 1-0 advantage. The home run was the first of his Wofford career. In the bottom of the second, the Wildcats tied the game with a solo home run by Forrest Brandt to right center. Davidson added a single and a hit by pitch, but both runners were left on base. Both teams were retired in order in the third inning. In the top of the fourth, Conor Clancey singled and Eric Brenk doubled off the left center wall. Demetrius Jennings reached on an error and Clancey scored for a 2-1 lead. Dylan May's sacrifice fly brought home Brenk for a 3-1 advantage in the middle of the fourth inning.
Davidson led off the bottom of the fourth with a single. A single by Ben Arkin with two outs drove in a run to make it a 3-2 game, but two runners were left on base. Josh Hyman walked with one out in the top of the fifth and a double by Seth Neely to right center scored Hyman for a 4-2 game. The Wildcats were retired in order in the bottom of the fifth.
Eric Brenk had a bunt single to lead off the top of the sixth and Demetrius Jennings added a single up the middle. An error on a sacrifice bunt by Dylan May loaded the bases. James Plaisted was hit by a pitch and Matt Ramsay earned a walk for a 6-2 advantage. A fly ball by Josh Hyman added another run and a two-out double by Alec Paradowski pushed the lead to 8-2. A single to left field by Conor Clancey scored Paradowski from third base to make it a 9-2 game in the middle of the sixth.
The Wildcats were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth, with the third out made on a diving catch by leftfielder Demetrius Jennings. In the top of the seventh with two out, James Plaisted hit a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole to make it a 10-2 game. It was Plaisted's first career home run. Davidson left one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh.
Alec Paradowski was hit by a pitch to open the eighth inning. A double by Seth Neely was followed by an RBI single from Conor Clancey made it an 11-2 lead. Eric Brenk was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Demetrius Jennings reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed two runs to score. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases again, Luke Feisal was hit by a pitch to plate a run and Wofford had a 14-2 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Wildcats added two singles. A fielding error with two outs allowed a run to score for a 14-3 game. A double down the left line by Ben Arkin drove in two runs to make it 14-5. A wild pitch and a balk scored Arkin for a 14-6 score. A single, walk, and single loaded the bases before a hit by pitch plated a run. A strikeout with the bases loaded ended the eighth inning.
Wofford opened the top of the ninth with a walk to Alec Paradowski. With one out, back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases. Derek Hirsch was hit by a pitch with two outs to bring in a run for a 15-6 lead. With the bases still loaded, James Plaisted hit his second home run of the day to make it a 19-7 advantage. Luke Feisal then added a solo home run inside the left field foul pole to give the Terriers a 20-7 advantage. The Wildcats had a double in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout ended the game.
Wofford pitcher Luke Leftwich (3-1) went a career-long 7.2 innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits. Only two of the runs were earned and he recorded eight strikeouts. Merritt Huber faced three batters and allowed one hit. Spencer Kulman worked 1.1 innings and allowed one hit with three strikeouts.
Davidson starter Danny Mooney (3-2) threw five innings and allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts. Durin O'Linger walked the lone batter he faced. Jip Richards went 1.2 innings with two runs allowed on five hits and one strikeout. Chad Moss worked two-thirds of an inning and allowed four runs on two hits. Ryan Wood went an inning with one run allowed. Chase Plebani and Jake Batchelder each went a third of an inning, with Plebani allowing five runs on two hits. Davidson hit a school record eight batters in the game.
The Terriers will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Next week Wofford travels to Gardner-Webb on Wednesday before a weekend series at Western Carolina.
