SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the opening game of a weekend Southern Conference series, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 6-4 by Furman at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers outhit the Paladins ten to nine, but five of the hits for Furman went for extra bases in the victory.
Wofford is 33-18 overall and 10-8 in the Southern Conference. Furman is 23-26 overall and 10-9 in conference play. Wofford stranded eleven runners on base, while Furman left only five. The Terriers were led by Carson Waln with three hits, while Conor Clancey had a pair of RBIs. Furman was led by Jake Jones with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and he scored three runs.
The Paladins left one runner on base in the top of the first inning after an error. Alec Paradowski led off the Wofford half of the first with a single to right field. A two-out double to left center field by Conor Clancey drove in Paradowski for a 1-0 lead. Furman took the lead on a two-run homer by Cameron Whitehead with one out in the top of the second inning.
Kody Ruedisili started the bottom of the second with a single and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Demetrius Jennings followed with a walk and a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners into scoring position. A ground out by Derek Hirsch scored Ruedisili to tie the game at 2-2, but Wofford left a runner at third base to end the second inning.
Furman had back-to-back doubles to start the third inning and took a 3-2 lead. With two outs and a runner on third, a single by Jordan Simpson drove in a run for a 4-2 advantage. The Paladins had a pair of runners on base before a strikeout ended the top of the third. A single by James Plaisted and a hit by pitch to Conor Clancey were followed by a fielder's choice. A walk loaded the bases with two outs, but a ground ball ended the third inning with all three runners stranded.
In the top of the fourth inning, Furman was retired in order. Max McDougald had an infield single to begin the bottom of the fourth inning, however the next three batters failed to advance him. The Paladins led off the fifth inning with a double by Jake Jones. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly for a 5-2 lead.
James Plaisted led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single. He moved to second on a balk and took third on a wild pitch. A ground out by Conor Clancey scored Plaisted for a 5-3 score. Carson Waln added an infield single, but was unable to advance. Both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Jake Jones singled. A double to right field by Griffin Davis scored Jones to make it a 6-3 game before a strikeout ended the top half. James Plaisted walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Conor Clancey reached on an error and Plaisted moved to third base on the play. A single by Carson Waln drove in Plaisted for a 6-4 score, but the seventh inning ended with two Terriers stranded.
Furman had one runner reach base in the top of the eighth on a walk before a strikeout ended the half. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the eighth inning and Furman went in order in the top of the ninth inning. Matt Ramsay led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single. After two strikeouts, Carson Waln added a single. A strikeout ended the game with two runners left on base.
Wofford starting pitcher Matt Milburn (9-2) threw seven innings and gave up six runs on nine hits. Five of the nine hits went for extra bases and he recorded eight strikeouts without a walk. Spencer Kulman did not allow a hit in two thirds of an inning with one strikeout. David Ehmen struck out the lone batter he faced. Elliot Lance worked the ninth and did not allow a hit.
Matt Solter (4-4) started for Furman and went seven innings with four runs allowed on eight hits. He struck out six batters with three walks. Elliott Warford earned his fifth save of the season by going two innings and allowing two hits with four strikeouts.
The Terriers and Paladins will continue the series on Saturday and Sunday, with both games beginning at 1:00 p.m.
