LEXINGTON, Va. – The Wofford College baseball team began a three-game series at VMI with a 5-3 win on Friday night at Gray-Minor Stadium. After four lead changes in the first four innings, the Terriers had a 5-3 lead after five innings and both team were held scoreless for the remainder of the contest.
 
Wofford is 22-18 overall and 6-7 in the Southern Conference. VMI is 18-24 overall and 2-11 in league play. The Terriers were led by Max McDougald with three hits, while Matt Milburn went 7.2 innings with nine strikeouts to earn the win. The Keydets had ten hits, led by Will Malbon and Collin Fleischer with two each. Of the 19 combined hits in the game, eighth were doubles.
 
After Wofford was retired in order in the top of the first, VMI had a two-out double in the bottom of the first. A wild pitch on a strikeout and a throwing error to first allowed a run to score for a 1-0 lead. The Terriers had a two-out single in the top of the second by Dylan May and then Max McDougald hit a ball down into the left field corner. May was safe at home on a throw to the plate and McDougald moved to third on the play. Kody Ruedisili reached on a fielding error and McDougald scored for a 2-1 lead for the Terriers.
 
The Keydets added a double in the bottom of the second and a single to right field by Matt Dunlevy made it a 2-2 game. Alec Paradowski led off the third inning with a single up the middle, but was stranded at third base. VMI opened their half of the third with a double and the runner moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single up the middle gave the Keydets a 3-2 lead at the end of the third.
 
Max McDougald singled with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and moved to second on a balk. A double off the wall in left center by Kody Ruedisili scored McDougald to tie the game at 3-3. Demetrius Jennings singled to shallow right field, which enabled Ruedisili to score and Wofford took a 4-3 advantage. VMI was retired in order to end the fourth inning. Brett Hash had a two-out double in the top of the fifth and Cody Miller added a double down the left line to make it a 5-3 lead.
 
VMI led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double, but the runner was stranded at third base. In the top of the sixth, Max McDougald beat a throw to first to lead off with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but was stranded. The Keydets left one runner on base to end the sixth inning.
 
In the top of the seventh, McClain Bradley reached on an error with one out. Brett Hash added a fielder's choice and Cody Miller walked with two outs, however both runners were left on base. In the VMI half of the seventh, Will Malbon singled but was caught stealing and a ground out ended the inning.
 
Wofford left one runner on base in the top of the eighth after a walk. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, VMI had a single. After a fielder's choice, a single gave the Keydets runners at first and second with two outs. A strikeout delivered by Will Stillman ended the eighth inning. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the ninth inning. A single by Tyler Tharp led off the bottom of the ninth for VMI. A fly ball was followed by a walk. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the game.  
 
Wofford starting pitcher Matthew Milburn (5-3) threw 7.2 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits. He struck out nine batters and walked one. Will Stillman made his 100^th career relief appearance and went 1.1 innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. It was his eighth save of the season and 27^th of his career.
 
Matthew Eagle (5-5) started for VMI and went 4.2 innings with five runs allowed on eight hits, along with two strikeouts. Jack Gomersall threw three innings and did not allow a run on one hit with three strikeouts. Kyle Staats worked two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout. Blaine Lafin also went two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout.
 
The Terriers will continue the series against VMI in Lexington on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., followed by a 1:00 p.m. contest on Sunday.