SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 9-2 by UNC Asheville at Russell C. King Field on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs score four unearned runs in the fifth inning and added a grand slam home run in the eighth inning to earn the win.
 
Wofford is 20-7 on the season, while UNC Asheville is 12-13 overall. The Terriers were held to just five hits on the night, with two by Matt Pelt. The Bulldogs took advantage of two errors and four hit batters to plate nine runs on seven hits. Joe Tietjen and Kyle Carruthers combined for seven RBIs for the Bulldogs.
 
The Bulldogs left one runner on base in the top of the first and Wofford was retired in order to end the first inning. Both teams stranded a runner in the second inning and UNC Asheville was retired in order in the top of the third.  
 
With one out in the bottom of the third, Derek Hirsch and Alec Paradowski had back-to-back singles. The runners were stranded at second and third to end the inning. After the Bulldogs were retired in order in the top of the fourth, Matt Pelt led off the bottom half with a single and Carson Waln walked. On a double steal, both runners advanced and with the addition of a throwing error Pelt scored for a 1-0 lead. Waln attempted to score from third base on a wild pitch, but was called out to end the fourth inning.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the lead-off batter for UNC Asheville reached on an error. With one out, Tanner Bush reached third on a fielding error that scored a run. The Bulldogs had two runners on base when Kyle Carruthers hit a home run to left field for a 4-1 lead. Wofford's Alec Paradowski was hit by a pitch with two outs. He moved to second on a wild pitch and stole third. Matt Ramsay walked, but the runners were left on the corners to end the fifth inning.
 
The Bulldogs had runners at first and third when a single through the right side by Tanner Bush drove in a run for a 5-1 score. Two runners were stranded to end the top half of the sixth. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, UNC Asheville led off with a double. The top half ended with runners on the corners stranded for the Bulldogs.
 
Wofford led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk by Conor Clancey, but he was left at second at the end of the seventh. The Bulldogs loaded the bases on two hit batters and a single in the top of the eighth. With one out, Joe Tietjen hit a home run over the left field fence to clear the bases and give the Bulldogs a 9-1 lead.
 
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, James Plaisted walked and a double by Matt Pelt drove in a run. Kody Ruedisili was hit by a pitch to give Wofford runners on the corners, but both were left on base after a strikeout. The Bulldogs left a runner on base in the top of the ninth and Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Jordan Accetta (1-1) threw five innings with four unearned runs allowed on two hits. He struck out five and walked one batter. Elliot Lance went an inning and gave up a run on two hits. Jacob Condra-Bogan worked an inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Merritt Huber, Connor Foltyn, and Spencer Kulman combined to work an inning with four runs allowed on three hits. Grant Byers threw the top of the ninth and did not allow a hit.
 
Lucas Clarke started for UNC Asheville and went three innings without allowing a run on three hits. Spencer Orr (3-3) earned the win by going four innings and allowing just one run on one hit with six strikeouts. Tyler Hughes went the final two innings and allowed one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
 
Wofford and UNC Asheville have split the season series so far, with a third game to be played in Asheville on April 8. The Terriers will begin a three-game weekend series with N.C. Central at 6:00 p.m. on Friday at Russell C. King Field.