SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford College baseball team began the 2016 season with a 5-4 win over Kentucky on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Wildcats scored the first two runs of the game, but the Terriers scored the next five for a 5-2 lead after five innings. Kentucky added a pair of runs in the seventh inning, however Wofford was able to hold on for the win.

Wofford opens the season 1-0. Kentucky, ranked as high as #24 in the nation in the preseason polls, begins at 0-1. The Terriers were led by starting pitcher Matthew Milburn, who went six innings and struck out ten batters. Max McDougald had three hits, while Alec Paradowski, Brett Hash and McClain Bradley each had two hits. Will Stillman struck out the side in the ninth for the save.

In the top of the second inning, Kentucky led off with a double by JaVon Shelby and he scored on a double play for a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats took advantage of a Wofford error and were able to add a run for a 2-0 advantage in the middle of the second. With two outs in the bottom of the second, McClain Bradley hit a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. A fly ball ended the second frame.

After Kentucky left one runner on base in the top of the third inning, Wofford had singles from Alec Paradowski and Max McDougald with one out in the bottom of the third. A third straight single by Kody Ruedisili drove in Alec Paradowski to make it a 2-1 game. A single up the middle by Brett Hash, the first of his Wofford career, plated McDougald to tie the score at two.

The Wildcats left one runner on base in the top of the fourth inning. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Demetrius Jennings singled and moved to second on an error. Alec Paradowski drove a ball to the fence in left center for an RBI double and the Terriers had a 3-2 advantage. Max McDougald had his third hit of the day through the right side that allowed Paradowski to score from second for a 4-2 lead at the end of four.

Kentucky stranded a runner at third base in the top of the fifth inning. Brett Hash led off the Wofford fifth with a single before a double play. Mack Nathanson crushed a ball over the fence in left center for a 5-2 score. It was his first home run of the season and fifth of his career. McClain Bradley added a single and Demetrius Jennings walked, but both were left on base at the end of the fifth inning. The Wildcats had one runner left on base in the top of the sixth inning.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Storm Wilson hit a two-run homer for Kentucky to make it a 5-4 contest. The Wildcats had runners on the corners with two outs, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance. Wofford left one runner on base to end the seventh inning and the Wildcats were retired in order in the top of the eighth inning.

The Terriers led off the bottom of the eighth with Demetrius Jennings being hit by a pitch, but he was unable to advance and the game moved to the top of the ninth. Will Stillman entered the game and struck out the side for the victory.

Wofford starting pitcher Matthew Milburn (1-0) threw six innings and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. He gave up six hits and had ten strikeouts. Jordan Accetta worked two-thirds of an inning and allowed two runs on two hits with one strikeout. Spencer Kulman threw 1.1 innings and did not allow a hit with one strikeout. Will Stillman struck out the side for the save, which was the 20^th of his career. He is now second in school history in career saves.

Zack Brown (0-1) started for the Wildcats and went 3.2 innings with four runs allowed on nine hits, along with three strikeouts. Zach Strecker threw 3.1 innings with one run allowed on three hits and three strikeouts. Logan Salow threw the eighth inning and did not allow a hit with one strikeout.

The Terriers will continue the opening weekend on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. against Stony Brook at Russell C. King Field.