CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the second straight season, the Wofford College baseball team's year ended with a loss to Samford in the semifinals of the 2015 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament presented by Mountain Shore Properties at Riley Park. The Bulldogs scored ten runs in the first inning and nine in the second inning to advance to the championship game on Sunday with a 25-4 win.
Wofford finishes the year 39-22 overall, setting a new school record for wins in a season. Samford is 32-25 on the season and reaches the SoCon title game for the third time in the last four seasons. The Bulldogs had 23 hits in the game, including five home runs and five doubles. Wofford was led by James Plaisted with three hits, while Conor Clancey had a pair of RBIs.
In the top of the first inning, Matt Ramsay was hit by a pitch with one out. James Plaisted hit a single and moved to second on the throw as Ramsay advanced to third base. A sacrifice fly to center field by Conor Clancey scored Ramsay for a 1-0 lead. Carson Waln followed with a double to right center to make it 2-0 before a strikeout ended the top half.
The Bulldogs led off the bottom of the first with a walk and an error. An RBI single by Heath Quinn made it a 2-1 game. With one out, a single by Jared Watson plated two runs for a 3-2 lead. Three more RBI singles gave Samford a 6-2 advantage. With the bases loaded and two outs, a grand slam home run by Heath Quinn made it a 10-2 lead.
Wofford was retired in order in the top of the second inning. Samford started the bottom of the second with a single. The Bulldogs added a single with two outs. An RBI single from T.J. Dixon pushed the score to 11-2. A walk loaded the bases and Heath Quinn singled to drive in two more runs to make it 13-2. With two runners on base, Austin Edens hit a home run to left field for a 16-2 lead. A walk and a double were followed by a three-run homer by Danny Rodriguez for a 19-2 game at the end of the second inning. The Terriers had one runner left on base in the top of the third after an error.
Samord was retired in order in the bottom of the third inning. Kody Ruedisili singled with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Demetrius Jennings added a single up the middle, but Wofford left runners on the corners. The Bulldogs added a two out single in the bottom of the fourth.
James Plaisted singled with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Conor Clancey added a single but two runners were left on base to end the Wofford half of the fifth. Samford had two singles in the bottom of the fifth, but stranded both runners.
In the top of the sixth inning, Matt Pelt was hit by a pitch to lead things off. Demetrius Jennings walked with one out and Derek Hirsch singled to load the bases. A fielder's choice and strikeout ended the inning with three runners stranded. Samford opened the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run by Heath Quinn, his second homer of the day and 14th of the season. Austin Edens followed with a solo home run by Austin Edens, his second of the day and 16th of the year. Samford took a 21-2 lead after six innings.
Wofford led off the seventh inning with a single by James Plaisted. With one out, Cody Miller reached on an error. Both runners were stranded after a strikeout and fielder's choice. Samford was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth with one out, Alex Malsch and Trace Witt walked. Matt Ramsay reached on an error that scored Malsch for a 21-3 game. Conor Clancey had an RBI single to score Witt and it was 21-4 in the middle of the eighth inning.
Two doubles in the bottom of the eighth by Samford pushed the lead to 22-4. Another RBI double with one out made it 23-4. The fourth double of the inning plated two more runs and Samford had a 25-4 lead. Demetrius Jennings walked with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but was stranded to end the game.
Wofford starter Connell Anderson (1-2) went a third of an inning and allowed six runs on four hits. Elliot Lance gave up four runs on three hits in a third of an inning. Spencer Kulman went an inning with five runs allowed on four hits. Jacob Condra-Bogan threw 3.1 innings with four runs allowed on six hits and two strikeouts. Jordan Accetta went two innings with two runs allowed on two hits, along with two strikeouts. Merritt Huber gave up four runs on four hits in an inning on the mound.
Mark Donham (4-1) started for Samford and went six innings with two runs allowed on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one batter. Tristan Widra worked to innings with two runs allowed on two hits. Jake Greer went an inning without allowing a hit and a pair of strikeouts.
