Box Score Game Box (pdf)SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team took the second game of the weekend series against Georgia Southern 6-4 on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Eagles tied the game in the top of the seventh, but the Terriers answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the series win.
Wofford is 23-20 on the season and 5-11 in the Southern Conference. Georgia Southern is 27-18 overall and 9-11 in league play. Five of the six runs scored by the Terriers were unearned, as the Eagles made five errors in the game. Conor Clancey led Wofford with three hits and an RBI. Ben Morgan led Georgia Southern with three hits and three RBIs.
The Eagles were retired in order in the top of the first inning. Wofford led off with a single by Eric Brenk, but was out on a fielder's choice by James Plaisted. Plaisted then took advantage of a throwing error and a fielding error on the same play to score a run. With two outs in the top of the second, the Eagles had back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 1-1.
Wofford had back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended the inning. Georgia Southern left one runner on base in the top of the third inning and Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, Georgia Southern loaded the bases on a double and a pair of walks. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the scoring chance for the Eagles.
The Terriers had back-to-back singles by Seth Neely and Josh Hyman to lead off the bottom of the fourth. A hit-and-run single through the left side by Conor Clancey drove in a run. With two outs and runners at second and third after a double steal, Kody Ruedisili reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and a throwing error on the play allowed both runners to score for a 4-1 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Eagles had a single but a double play ended the top half. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs in the top of the sixth, the Eagles had a double but the runner was stranded on third base. Wofford loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth after a walk by Alec Paradowski, single by Conor Clancey, and Kody Ruedisili was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice ended the scoring opportunity for the Terriers.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on two hits and a walk. A double by Ben Morgan cleared the bases and tied the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the seventh, Matt Ramsay singled but was caught stealing second. James Plaisted added a double and back-to-back walks to Seth Neely and Josh Hyman loaded the bases with one out. Matt Kaskow reached first on a fielder's choice, but an error on the play at the plate allowed two runs to score and Wofford had a 6-4 lead at the end of the seventh inning.
Georgia Southern had two runners on base after walks in the top of the eighth, but a strikeout ended the half. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Eagles led off the ninth with a walk and single. A fly ball, strikeout and intentional walk loaded the bases for Georgia Southern with two out. A fly ball to right field ended the scoring chance and the game.
Wofford starting pitcher Matt Milburn went six innings and allowed just one run on five hits with six strikeouts. Eric Eck (1-2) worked an inning and gave up three runs on three hits with one strikeout. Jacob Condra-Bogan went two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit with two strikeouts. Will Stillman earned his third save of the season by going the final 1.1 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
Josh Wirsu (8-3) started for Georgia Southern and went 6.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. Eric Alonzo gave up one run. Jason Richman threw the final 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit with one strikeout.
The three-game series against Georgia Southern will conclude on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with Wofford going for the sweep. The Terriers are back at home on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. against Charleston Southern.
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