CULLOWHEE, N.C. – In the final game of the weekend conference series, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 13-5 by Western Carolina on Easter Sunday at Hennon Stadium. The Terriers had a 4-0 lead in the middle of the third inning, but the rest of the game belong to the Catamounts as they scored the next 13 runs to earn a victory in the weekend series.
Wofford is 24-11 overall, with a 3-3 record in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina is 14-14 overall and 6-3 in the SoCon. Both teams had 12 hits in the game, but Wofford stranded 13 runners on base while the Catamounts took advantage of seven walks and four hit batters. Five Wofford batters had two hits each. Bradley Strong was 4-of-5 for Western Carolina with four RBIs.
Alec Paradowski opened the game by reaching on an error and Matt Ramsay walked. James Plaisted put down a sacrifice bunt and loaded the bases on a second error of the inning. A wild pitch allowed Paradowski to score from third for a 1-0 lead. Conor Clancey walked to keep the bases loaded. After a pair of strikeouts, a ground ball back to the pitcher ended the top half with three runners stranded. Western Carolina was retired in order to end the first inning.
To lead off the second inning, Max McDougald doubled down the right line. With two outs, a single through the right side by Matt Ramsay drove in the run for a 2-0 advantage. In the bottom of the second with one out, the first Catamount reached base on a walk. A 3-6 double play ended the second frame. Carson Waln had a one out single in the top of the third and Matt Pelt followed with a single. A wild pitch advanced the runners and a single by Kody Ruedisili gave Wofford a 3-0 lead. A squeeze bunt by Max McDougald scored Pelt from third. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, but a pop up ended the top half with Wofford leading 4-0.
Western Carolina walked to start the bottom of the third inning. A double play was followed by a walk and a stolen base. A single by Brett Pope drove in the runner for a 4-1 game at the end of the third. Matt Ramsay singled to begin the fourth inning, but a double play erased the base runner and a fly ball ended the top half. The Catamounts had a double from Bradley Strong to open the bottom of the fourth. He moved to third on a fly ball and a hit by pitch gave Western Carolina runners on the corners. A ground out plated a run for a 4-2 score and a strikeout ended the fourth inning.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Matt Pelt singled and he stole second base. Max McDougald walked and stole second, but a strikeout stranded a pair of runners in scoring position. The Catamounts began the bottom of the fifth with a single and the runner advanced on a sacrifice bunt. A strikeout and line out to Max McDougald at third base ended the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Alec Paradowski was hit by a pitch to lead things off, but a line drive into a double play erased the runner. A strikeout ended the Wofford half of the sixth. Bradley Strong hit a triple to start the bottom of the sixth. Matt Smith singled to drive in the run to make it a 4-3 game. The Catamounts added three more hits, four walks and a pair of hit by pitch to score a total of eight runs in the inning to take a 10-4 lead.
Conor Clancey and Carson Waln singled to open the top of the seventh. A fielder's choice gave Wofford runners at the corners, but two foul outs ended the top half. The Catamounts had runners on the corners with two outs when a triple by Bradley Strong drove in both runners for a 12-4 lead. A double by Danny Bermudez pushed the lead to 13-4 before a ground ball ended the seventh inning.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Alec Paradowski doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases. A third straight walk to Conor Clancey plated a run before a double play ended the top half with a 13-5 score. Western Carolina had a runner on base with an out when the Terriers turned a double play to end the eighth inning. Kody Ruedisili singled in the top of the ninth, but a ground out and fly ball ended the game.
Wofford starting pitcher Adam Scott (4-2) threw 5.2 innings with five runs allowed on six hits, along with four strikeouts. Jacob Condra-Bogan walked three batters and all three scored. Jordan Accetta gave up two hits and two runs. Josh Simpson retired one batter. Grant Byers went an inning with three runs allowed on four hits. Merritt Huber added an inning and did not allow a hit with a strikeout.
Korey Anderson (3-2) started for Western Carolina and went seven innings with four runs score on ten his and five strikeouts. Jonathan Waszak worked a third of an inning with one run allowed. Taylor Durand went two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit. Corey Sikes threw the top of the ninth with one hit allowed.
Next week Wofford will travel to UNC Asheville on Wednesday before a weekend series at The Citadel beginning on Friday night.
