CHARLESTON, S.C. – On Friday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team defeated The Citadel 5-1 at Riley Park in the opening game of the weekend series. The Bulldogs scored once in the fifth inning, but the Terriers answered in the top of the sixth with four runs. The Citadel had the tying run at the plate in the eighth inning, but failed to score.
 
Wofford is 26-11 overall, with a 4-3 record in the Southern Conference. The Citadel is 15-17 overall and 1-6 in the SoCon. The Bulldogs had a 10 to 8 lead in hits in the game, but Wofford was able to take advantage of four errors. The Terriers were led by Carson Waln with two hits and two RBIs, while Matt Pelt and Max McDougald added RBIs. Four Bulldogs had two hits each, with Johnathan Stokes coming up with the lone RBI.
 
Alec Paradowski led off the game with a single, but was caught stealing second. One runner was left on base after a walk in the top of the first inning. With one out in the bottom of the second, Johnathan Stokes hit a double. He was stranded at third after a strikeout to end the first inning.
 
Wofford had one runner reach base on an error in the top of the second. The Bulldogs opened the bottom of the second with a single, but the runner was stranded at second base to end the inning. In the top of the third, Derek Hirsch reached on a fielding error. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a failed pick off. A fielder's choice and fly ball ended the scoring chance for the Terriers.
 
The Bulldogs were retired in order in the bottom of the third, with James Plaisted making an impressive catch in left field for the final out. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the fourth inning. The Citadel opened the bottom of the fourth with a single. A single with one out and a ground out gave the Bulldogs runners at second and third, but a strikeout looking ended the inning.
 
Kody Ruedisili opened the fifth inning with a single. He moved to second and third on bunts, but was stranded after a strikeout to end the top half. The Bulldogs added a single with one out in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and the runner at third, a single up the middle by Johnathan Stokes drove in the first run of the game. A fly ball ended the fifth inning with the Bulldogs holding a 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth, Matt Ramsay led off with a single and James Plaisted was hit by a pitch. They moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. A triple to right center by Carson Waln drove in both runners for a 2-1 lead. An infield single by Matt Pelt added a run to make it a 3-1 contest. With runners on the corners, the Terriers ran a double steal and Pelt was safe at home on a throwing error for a 4-1 advantage in the middle of the sixth.
 
The Citadel led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and a walk. With one out, a 5-3 double play ended the sixth inning. Wofford left one runner on base in the top of the seventh. For the third time in four innings, the Bulldogs led off with a single. A fly ball and a pair of strikeouts ended the seventh inning.
 
Carson Waln hit a single up the middle to begin the eighth inning. Matt Pelt reached on a fielder's choice and with two outs a double to right center by Max McDougald pushed the lead to 5-1. The Citadel had a double by Drew Ellis to start the bottom of the eighth. A single and a walk loaded the bases. After a strikeout, a foul out and a ground out ended the inning with all three runners stranded.
 
The top of the ninth started with a single by Alec Paradowski, but a double play ended the Wofford half. An error allowed the lead-off batter for The Citadel to reach in the bottom of the ninth. A strikeout and fly ball gave the Bulldogs two outs. A long fly ball to center field ended the game.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Matt Milburn (8-0) went seven innings and allowed ten hits and one run, along with four strikeouts. Jacob Condra-Bogan threw two innings and earned his second save of the season without allowing a hit. He struck out one and got out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning.
 
James Reeves (5-2) started for The Citadel and went six innings with four runs allowed on five hits. He walked two and had five strikeouts. Zach Lavery threw two innings with one run given up on two hits and two strikeouts. Kevin Connell gave up one hit in the ninth inning.
 
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Riley Park. Wofford will return home on Wednesday to face USC Upstate to end a nine-game road swing.