JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – On Friday night, the Wofford College baseball team opened a weekend series with a 6-5 loss to East Tennessee State at Thomas Stadium. The Terriers had a 4-3 lead after three innings, but the Bucs tied the game at four in the seventh. Wofford scored once in the eighth, but left the bases loaded. A two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth gave the Bucs a 6-5 win.
                    
Wofford is 22-20 on the season and 7-6 in the Southern Conference. ETSU is 20-20 overall and 3-10 in league play. The Terriers were led by Carson Waln two hits and three RBIs, while McClain Bradley had two hits and scored twice. Cullen Smith led the Bucs with three hits, while Hunter Parker had two hits, including the game winning home run.
 
With one out in the top of the first inning, McClain Bradley singled and with two outs Carson Waln cleared the fence in center field to give the Terriers a 2-0 advantage. It was Waln's third home run this season. The Bucs left one runner on base to end the first inning. Andrew Orzel led off the second inning with a walk, but was picked off to end the top half. In the bottom of the second, the Bucs had a pair of singles, but one runner was picked off and the other was caught stealing.
 
The Terriers added a base runner in the top of the third inning when Kody Ruedisili walked. McClain Bradley and Brett Hash added singles to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by Carson Waln drove in one run and then an attempted double steal allowed Bradley to score from third base for a 4-0 lead in the middle of the third. In the bottom half, the Bucs led off with a hit by pitch and single. With one out, a single and a double drove in runs to cut the lead to 4-2. A sacrifice fly made it a 4-3 game at the end of three innings.
 
Both teams left a pair of runners on base in the fourth inning. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the fifth inning and ETSU left one on base after a Terrier fielding error. After the Terriers went in order in the top of the sixth, the Bucs led off with a bunt single and a hit by pitch. A line out and a pair of fly balls ended the inning. With one out in the top of the seventh, Reed Massey singled. A double play sent the game to the seventh inning stretch.
 
In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the Bucs drew a walk. A triple to right field tied the game at 4 and a fly ball ended the seventh inning. Kody Ruedisili led off the top of the eighth with a single and Brett Hash walked with one out. A single by Carson Waln loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly by Mack Nathanson gave Wofford a 5-4 lead. Andrew Orzel walked to load the bases again, but a fly ball ended the top half with three runners left on base. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, a walk was followed by a home run by Hunter Parker as the Bucs regained the lead at 6-5. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
 
Adam Scott started for the Terriers and threw 6.2 innings with four runs allowed on eight hits. He struck out six batters and walked two. Matt Ellmyer (1-2) went one and a third innings and gave up two runs on two hits, along with one strikeout.
 
ETSU starter Ryan Simpler (6-3) went eight innings with five runs allowed on eight hits, along with seven strikeouts. Chris Cook earned his third save of the season by retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.
 
Wofford will continue the three game series at ETSU on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Terriers only have two home dates remaining, a single game on May 12 and a doubleheader on May 14, against Mercer.