SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Pitcher Matt Milburn threw a complete game as the Wofford College baseball team defeated Gardner-Webb 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers had 13 hits in the game and used a four-run sixth inning to take the lead.
Wofford is 10-4 on the season, while Gardner-Webb is 10-3 overall. Alec Paradowski, Carson Waln, James Plaisted and Matt Pelt each had two hits for the Terriers. Four different players had RBIs in the contest. The Runnin' Bulldogs had five players with one hit each.
Gardner-Webb opened the game with a double by Henry Rundio. A back-to-back ground outs advanced and scored Rundio for a 1-0 lead. Alec Paradowski led off the bottom of the first with a single and Matt Ramsay added a single with one out. A pair of strikeouts ended the scoring chance for the Terriers.
In the top of the second inning, the Runnin' Bulldogs left one runner on base. Max McDougald had a single with two outs, but was picked off to end the second inning. Both teams were retired in order in the third inning and Gardner-Webb left one on base in the top of the fourth inning.
The Terriers had singles from James Plaisted and Matt Pelt in the bottom of the fourth inning, but were unable to plate a run. After Gardner-Webb was retired in order in the top of the fifth inning, Derek Hirsch hit a two-out single but was left on base.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Gardner-Webb had back-to-back singles. A single by Sam Fulginiti drove in a run to take a 2-0 lead before a fly ball ended the top half. Carson Waln led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and he stole second base. Matt Ramsay walked and Waln moved to third on a wild pitch. James Plaisted doubled to left field to score Waln and moved Ramsay to third base. A single by Kody Ruedisili drove in Ramsay to tie the game at 2-2. A wild pitch allowed Plaisted to score and a double to the wall in left center by Conor Clancey put the Terriers up 4-2.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were retired in order in the top of the seventh inning. Alex Paradowski led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and he moved to third on a single by Carson Waln. A sacrifice fly by Matt Ramsay scored Paradowski for a 5-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Gardner-Webb had a runner reach on a walk. A caught stealing and a strikeout ended the top half. Wofford led off the bottom of the eighth with a double by Matt Pelt, but he failed to advance. In the top of the ninth, the Runnin' Bulldogs had one runner reach base before back-to-back fly balls to left field ended the game.
Wofford starting pitcher Matt Milburn (3-0) threw his first career complete game. In nine innings, he allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six batters with three walks. It was the second complete game thrown by a Wofford pitcher this season, joining Adam Scott last weekend against Harvard.
Erik Heiligenstadt (1-1) started for Gardner-Webb and went 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. Bradley Hallman gave up a run on two hits. Mitch Warner worked 1.2 innings with one run allowed on two hits. Wil Sellers threw the final inning with one hit allowed and a strikeout.
The Terriers continue the three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Gardner-Webb, with the Sunday contest back at Wofford at 2:00 p.m.
