TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Wofford College baseball team opened the 2017 season with a 17-4 loss to Florida A&M on Friday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. The Terriers scored two runs in the top of the first, but the Rattlers scored six runs in the bottom of the first and added six runs in the seventh inning on the way to the victory.
 
Wofford is 0-1, while Florida A&M is 1-0. The Terriers were led by Brett Hash with a pair of RBIs and Max McDougald with two hits. John Capra led the Rattlers by going 4-of-5 from the plate with four RBIs and Aubrey McCarthy had four RBIs on two hits.
 
Kody Ruedisili led off the game by reaching on an error. Back-to-back doubles by Max McDougald and Brett Hash gave the Terriers a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the Rattlers answered by scoring six runs on seven hits for a 6-2 lead over the Terriers. Reed Massey doubled to open the second inning and Alex Malsch walked. After a double steal, a sacrifice by Kody Ruedisili scored Massey and a single by max McDougald scored Malsch to cut the advantage to 6-4.
 
The Rattlers load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended the scoring chance. Wofford adds one hit in the top of the third, but were unable to score. In the bottom of the third, a single by John Capra drove in two runs for an 8-4 lead. After a quiet fourth inning, the Rattlers load the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth and a walk plated a run. Wofford left one runner on base in the sixth. A single and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth push the Florida A&M lead to 11-4.
 
After the Terriers were retired in order in the top of the seventh, the Rattlers added six runs in the bottom of the seventh on five hits and an error for a 17-4 advantage.  Wofford was able to load the bases in the top of the eighth, but were unable to plate a run. In the bottom of the eighth, the Rattlers were retired in order by Jake Hershman. The Terriers left two runners on base in the top of the ninth.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Adam Scott (0-1) went 1.1 innings with six runs allowed on eight hits and two strikeouts. Elliot Lance worked 3.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits and had four strikeouts. A trio of freshmen made their collegiate debuts with Matt Ellmyer (one inning, two runs allowed), Rasesh Pandya (two thirds of an inning, six runs allowed, two strikeouts), and Jake Hershman (one inning, no runs, two strikeouts). Merritt Huber also worked a third of an inning without allowing a hit.
 
JoJo Durden (1-0) started for the Rattlers and went five innings with four runs allowed on five hits, along with four strikeouts. Danny Rodriguez earned the save by going four innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
 
The game marked the first time the Terriers have opened a season on the road since 2005 and it was the first time the season has begun with a loss since 2014. Wofford continues the weekend road series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The home slate begins next Friday at 5:00 p.m. against James Madison at Russell C. King Field.