MACON, Ga. – On Friday night, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 14-3 by Mercer at Claude Smith Field. The Terriers scored two runs in the first inning, but the Bears had a 4-2 lead after three innings. They added four runs in the bottom of the seventh and six runs in the eighth to secure the series win.
 
Wofford is 15-9 on the season and 0-2 in league play. Mercer is 15-8 overall and 2-0 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led by Cody Miller with two hits and a run scored, while Adam Scott had eight strike outs. SoCon Preseason Player of the Year Kyle Lewis had three hits and drove in five runs for the Bears, while Dann Edgeworth added three hits.
 
Alec Paradowski led off the game with a single through the right side and Max McDougald followed with a walk. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and an infield single by McClain Bradley made it a 1-0 game. Brett Hash had a sacrifice fly and Wofford had a 2-0 lead in the middle of the first inning. Mercer was retired in order to end the first inning.
 
To begin the second inning, Cody Miller singled to right field. A double play and line out ended the Wofford half of the second. The Bears opened the bottom of the second with a double and a single gave them runners on the corners. A single through the right side with one out cut the score to 2-1 and with two outs a single up the middle tied the game at two.
 
In the top of the third, McClain Bradley walked with two outs then stole second and moved to third on an error. A strikeout ended the top half for Wofford. The Bears began their half of the third with a hit by pitch and a single. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners and a single by Danny Edgeworth drove in both runners for a 4-2 lead at the end of the third inning. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Cody Miller and Kody Ruedisili had singles. An infield single by Derek Hirsch drove in Miller as he avoided the tag at home plate for a 4-3 score.
 
The Bears were retired in order in the bottom of the fourth inning and both teams went in order in the fifth inning. Chandler Engel led off the top of the sixth with a single. He stole second, but was stranded at third. The Bears had one runner reach in the bottom of the sixth on a walk, but failed to advance. Alec Paradowski was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the seventh, but was stranded at first.
 
Mercer led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk by Matt Meeder and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch moved Meeder to third and a second wild pitch made it a 5-3 game. With runners on the corners after an infield single, a double by Kyle Lewis drove in both runners for a 7-3 lead. With Lewis reaching third on a throwing error, a sacrifice bunt by Charlie Madden pushed the score to 8-3. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the eighth. The Bears loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth on a single and two walks. A single by the middle plated a run and then a fielding error on a ball hit by Ryan Hagan allowed two runs to score. Kyle Lewis then hit a two-run blast to right center for a 14-3 lead. In the top of the ninth, the Terriers were retired in order to end the game.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Adam Scott (3-2) threw 6.1 innings with five runs allowed on six hits. He had eight strike outs, including two of Kyle Lewis, and walked three. Jordan Accetta gave up to runs on one hit and a walk. Spencer Kulman worked two-thirds of an inning with one run allowed on one hit, along with one strike out. Chris Sheehan was on the mound for a third of an inning and gave up four runs on two hits with one strike out. Merritt Huber got the final two outs and allowed two runs on two hits with one strike out.
 
Ryan Askew (1-2) started for Mercer and went 6.1 innings with three runs allowed on seven hits, along with six strike outs. Austin Lord faced two batters and recorded one out. Taylor Lobus threw the final 2.1 innings without allowing a hit and one strike out.
 
Wofford and Mercer will conclude the series at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The Terriers will host Presbyterian College on Tuesday, March 29.