CULLOWHEE, N.C. – In the opening game of a weekend conference series, the Wofford College baseball team defeated Western Carolina 11-8 on Friday night at Hennon Stadium. With the game tied at 2-2 after the fifth inning, the Terriers plated seven runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Catamounts battled back and had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth before a strikeout ended the contest.
 
Wofford is 24-9 overall, with a 3-1 record in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina is 12-14 overall and 4-3 in the SoCon. The two teams combined for 30 hits in the game. Wofford had five players with two hits each, with Derek Hirsch and Conor Clancey also driving in a pair of runs. The Catamounts had six players with two hits each, with Danny Bermudez driving in three runs.
 
Both teams were retired in order in the first inning. Matt Pelt started the second inning with a single. A double play was followed by back-to-back walks. A fly ball ended the top half with two runners stranded. Western Carolina was retired in order in the bottom of the second inning and Wofford went 1-2-3 in the top of the third.
 
The Catamounts had their first hit of the game with one out in the bottom of the third inning. After the runner advanced on a wild pitch, a double by Matthew Koehler plated the first run of the game. With two outs and a runner on third, Matt Smith hit an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. One runner was stranded to end the third inning.
 
Carson Waln had an infield single with two outs in the top of the fourth, but was left on base. Jacob Hoyle struck out to start the bottom of the fourth inning, but reached on a wild pitch. The Catamounts half of the fourth ended with runners stranded at second and third base.
 
To lead off the fifth inning, Conor Clancey hit a solo home run well over the fence in left field to make it a 2-1 game. Derek Hirsch added a single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out. James Plaisted drove in a run on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 2-2. Two more fielder's choices ended the inning for the Terriers.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Catamounts had three singles to load the bases with one out. A 6-3 double play ended the scoring chance for Western Carolina with the score 2-2. Both teams stranded a runner in the sixth inning after reaching on walks.
 
Alec Paradowski and Matt Ramsay led off the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles. A single by James Plaisted loaded the bases with nobody out. An infield single by Matt Pelt drove in a run for a 3-2 lead. After a pair of strikeouts, Conor Clancey drew a walk to plate a run and gave Wofford a 4-2 lead. Mack Nathanson came in and hit a pinch hit triple to right center to clear the bases. A throwing error on the play allowed Nathanson to score and Wofford pushed the lead to 8-2. Derek Hirsch took a pitch off the batting helmet to earn first base. Alec Paradowski added a single as the Terriers batted around in the inning. Matt Ramsay had an infield single, which along with a throwing error, allowed Hirsch to score. Wofford left a pair of runners on base in the middle of the seventh, but had a 9-2 lead over the Catamounts.
 
Western Carolina had a single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a single with two outs, Jacob Hoyle hit a single to right center to drive in a run. Danny Bermudez added an RBI single to cut the lead to 9-4. A single by Kramer Ferrell drove in a run to make it a 9-5 game. A walk loaded the bases before a ground out ended the seventh inning.
 
The Terriers added a two-out single in the top of the eighth by Kody Ruedisili. Conor Clancey followed with a double and a walk by Trace Witt loaded the bases. Derek Hirsch hit a ball that dropped between three fielders in the outfield for a double and a pair of runs scored for an 11-5 lead. Western Carolina led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. With two outs, a walk gave the Catamounts runners at the corners. A single by Jacob Hoyle plated a run to make it an 11-6 score. Danny Bermudez hit a double that drove in two runs and it was an 11-8 game. A fly ball to left field ended the eighth inning.
 
In the top of the ninth, Wofford was retired in order. Western Carolina opened the bottom of the ninth with a double. After back-to-back strikeouts, a walk brought the tying run to the plate. With a full count, a strikeout looking ended the game.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Matthew Milburn (7-0) threw 6.2 innings with five runs allowed on eleven hits. Milburn struck out five batters and walked only one. Spencer Kulman went an inning with three runs allowed on four hits. Elliot Lance retired the lone batter he faced. Jacob Condra-Bogan earned his first save of the season by allowing one hit and striking out three in the ninth.
 
B.J. Nobles (3-1) started for Western Carolina and went six innings. He gave up five runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts and five walks. Colton Davis worked two-thirds of an inning with four runs allowed on two hits, along with two strikeouts and a walk. Tyler Durand went an inning with two runs allowed on two hits and a strikeout. Jonathan Waszak gave up a hit. Corey Sikes did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings and had one strikeout.
 
Wofford scored in double digits for the seventh time this season and they are 7-0 in those games. It was the first win for Wofford in Cullowhee since 2011 and ended a six-game winning streak in the series by the Catamounts. The Terriers continue the series at Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and complete the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.