Box Score Game Box (pdf)
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Wednesday night the Wofford baseball team earned a 7-4 win over Gardner-Webb at John Henry Moss Stadium. The Terriers had a 5-0 lead before the Runnin' Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Wofford tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth to secure the victory.
Wofford is 16-9 on the season and Gardner-Webb is 9-16 overall. The Terriers were led by Matt Kaskow with three hits and two RBIs, while Alec Paradowski added two RBIs. J.J. Nazzaro had three RBIs for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Both teams left two runners on base in the first inning. In the top of the second, Wofford loaded the bases with three straight walks to Demetrius Jennings, Dylan May, and Luke Feisal. A single by Matt Kaskow drove in the first run of the game and Alec Paradowski reached on a fielder's choice for a 2-0 lead. Gardner-Webb loaded the bases in the bottom of the second but all three runners were stranded.
Eric Brenk led off the third inning with a single by Eric Brenk. A double by Conor Clancey down the left line scored Brenk for a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, two singles gave Gardner-Webb runners at the corners with one out, but a double play ended the scoring chance. Both teams were retired in order in the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Eric Brenk walked, moved to second on a failed pick off, and reached third on a balk. A double by James Plaisted scored Brenk for a 4-0 game. Gardner-Webb left two runners on base to end the fifth inning. Wofford had runners on the corners after singles by Matt Kaskow and Seth Neely in the top of the sixth inning. A bunt single by Alec Paradowski scored Kaskow from third for a 5-0 lead, but the Terriers left the bases loaded.
Gardner-Webb loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single and two hit batters. A triple by J.J. Nazzaro cleared the bases to make it a 5-3 game. A sacrifice fly from Tyler Best cut the score to 5-4 at the end of the sixth. Both teams were retired in order in the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, Alec Paradowski singled with two outs. Eric Brenk added a bunt single and the runners advanced on a wild pitch, but both were stranded.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were retired in order in the bottom of the eighth. Wofford had Demetrius Jennings reach on a walk with one out in the top of the ninth. Jennings stole second and moved to third on a single by Dylan May. A sacrifice bunt by Luke Feisal drove in Jennings for a 6-4 lead. Matt Kaskow had an RBI single with two outs to make it a 7-4 game. Gardner-Webb had a runner hit by pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Wofford pitcher Jordan Accetta (2-1) started and went five innings without allowing a run on five hits. Jesse Morris worked a third of an inning and allowed four runs on two hits with one strikeout. Connor Foltyn retired the one batter he faced. Spencer Kulman had one batter reach on an error. Will Stillman went 2.1 innings and had two strikeouts while not allowing a hit. Eric Eck picked up his sixth save of the season and had one strikeout in the ninth inning.
Gardner-Webb starter Beau Hilton (1-1) went two innings and allowed two runs on one hit with one strikeout. Brad Haymes threw three innings and gave up two runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Will Canady went an inning with one run allowed on three hit and three strikeouts. Easton Welch added two innings and did not allow a hit with three strikeouts. Hunter Smith went an inning and allowed two runs on two hits with a strikeout.
The Terriers will begin a weekend Southern Conference series at Western Carolina on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.
