JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – In the first game of a three-game series, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 6-3 by East Tennessee State on Friday night at Thomas Stadium. The Bucs scored three runs in the first inning and added three in the seventh inning to secure the victory. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday to conclude the regular season.
 
Wofford is 35-19 overall and 12-9 in the Southern Conference. ETSU is 20-33 overall and 7-15 in their first year back in the SoCon. Both teams had eight hits in the game, but the Terriers left seven runners on base and struck out a season-high 14 times. Wofford was led by Carson Waln with two hits and two RBIs. The Bucs were led by Hagen Owenby with a three-run homer in the first inning.
 
James Plaisted hit a double with two outs in the top of the first inning, but was unable to advance. The Buccaneers led off with back-to-back singles. With two outs, Hagen Owenby hit a home run to center field for a 3-0 advantage. In the top of the second, Demetrius Jennings walked and moved to second on an error. A single through the right side by Max McDougald with two outs scored Jennings for a 3-1 score.
 
The Bucs were retired in order in the bottom of the second inning and Wofford went down in order in the top of the third inning. With two outs in the bottom of the third, an ETSU single was followed by a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Conor Clancey led off the top of the fourth inning with his 26th double of the season. With one out, Clancey moved to third on a wild pitch but a pair of strikeouts ended the top half. ETSU had a runner on first with two outs, but was picked off to end the fourth inning.
 
To lead off the fifth inning, Max McDougald singled. With two outs, Matt Ramsay walked but a strikeout stranded both Wofford runners. The Bucs opened the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. A fly ball to right field and the runner out at home on a perfect throw by James Plaisted made it a double play to end the fifth inning.
 
With one out in the top of the sixth, Carson Waln singled but was stranded at second base. After a lead-off walk in the bottom of the sixth, a double play and ground ball ended the Bucs' half of the sixth. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning. A single led things off in the bottom of the seventh inning for ETSU. Back-to-back errors fielding bunts loaded the bases. An RBI single by Christian Bailey made it a 4-1 game and back-to-back sacrifice flies gave the Bucs a 6-1 lead.
 
Matt Ramay singled to open the top of the eighth inning. Conor Clancey added a single with one out and a triple to right center by Carson Waln plated both runners for a 6-3 game. After a hit by pitch began the bottom of the eighth, a double play and strikeout ended the inning. A pair of strikeouts and a ground out for Wofford in the top of the ninth ended the game.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Matt Milburn (9-3) threw six innings and allowed three runs on six hits. He had four strikeouts and walked a pair of batters. David Ehmen gave up three runs, one of which was earned, on a hit. Elliot Lance worked an inning with one hit allowed. Connell Anderson threw an inning with one strikeout and no hits allowed.
 
Jimmy Nesselt (5-6) started for ETSU and went five innings with one run allowed on four hits. He walked two batters and had 9 strikeouts, giving him 103 on the season to be tied for first place in the SoCon. Lee Haeberle threw two innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. Griffin Krieg went the final two innings with two runs allowed on three hits and two strikeouts.
 
Wofford and ETSU will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. to complete the regular season. The Terriers will begin play in the Southern Conference Tournament on Wednesday, May 20. With one win on Saturday, Wofford will earn the #2 or #3 seed for the tournament.