Box Score Game Box (pdf)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the opening game of the weekend series, the Wofford College baseball team defeated Georgia Southern 8-3 at Russell C. King Field on Friday night. The Terriers jumped out early with a 2-run homer by Matt Ramsay in the first inning and a 3-run homer by Conor Clancey in the third inning on the way to the win.
 
Wofford is 22-20 on the season and 4-11 in the Southern Conference. Georgia Southern is 27-17 overall and 9-10 in league play. The Terriers had two hits each from Derek Hirsch, James Plaisted, and Seth Neely, while Conor Clancey had three RBIs. Three different Eagles hit solo home runs in the game.  
 
With two outs in the top of the first inning, Aaron Mizell hit a solo home run over the right field fence to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Eric Brenk led off the Wofford half of the first with a single and Matt Ramsay followed with a home run out to left field for a 2-1 lead. It marked his third home run of the season. Singles by James Plaisted and Seth Neely, plus a hit by pitch to Josh Hyman, loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly with one out by Luke Feisal made it a 3-1 score, but the Terriers ended the inning by leaving two on base.
 
In the top of the second, the Eagles got one run back on a solo home run by Ben Morgan for a 3-2 score. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the second and Georgia Southern left one on base in the top of the third. James Plaisted led off the bottom of the third with a single and he scored on a double by Seth Neely for a 4-2 score. Josh Hyman walked and then Conor Clancey hit a home run to left center to give Wofford a 7-2 advantage.
 
The Eagles led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run by Stryker Brown to make it a 7-3 game. Wofford had one runner reach base in the bottom of the fourth and then Georgia Southern was retired in order in the top of the fifth. Wofford left one runner on base at the end of the fifth inning.
 
Georgia Southern had two runners on base with one out in the top of the sixth, but a double play ended the scoring chance. Derek Hirsch led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, but he was left on third base at the end of the inning. Both teams left one runner on base in the seventh inning. Georgia Southern was retired in order in the top of the eighth.
 
Luke Feisal opened the bottom of the eighth with a single and Derek Hirsch added a single. The runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Kody Ruedisili. A ground out by Eric Brenk plated a run for an 8-3 lead. The Eagles were retired in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
                                                                                                                                            
Wofford starting pitcher Jesse Morris (7-5) went 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. Will Stillman closed the final 2.2 innings by not allowing a hit and striking out four batters.
 
Sam Howard (4-6) started for Georgia Southern and went two innings with seven runs allowed on seven hits. Ryan Frederick went 5.1 innings and did not allow a run on four hits with three strikeouts. Tripp Sheppard threw the final two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit.
                                                    
The three-game series against Georgia Southern continues on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.