SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team used a late rally to defeat VMI 13-3 on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Keydets led 3-0 after the second inning, but the Terriers took a 4-3 advantage in the seventh inning and added nine runs in the eighth inning for the win.
Wofford is 17-16 on the season and 3-3 in the Southern Conference. VMI is 17-16 overall and 4-5 in the league.
McClain Bradley led the Terriers with four hits and three RBIs, while
Alex Malsch added three hits and three runs scored. Peyton Maddox had two hits for the Keydets, who took two of the three games in the weekend series.
With two outs in the top of the first inning, the Keydets had an infield single and then Tyler Tharp cleared the fence in centerfield to make it a 2-0 game.
Kody Ruedisili led off the bottom of the first with a single and he stole second, but was stranded. Ryan Hatten hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the second inning for a 3-0 lead.
Wofford opened the bottom of the second with a walk by
Carson Waln, but a double play ended the inning. VMI left two runners in scoring position after a pair of hits in the top of the third inning. With one out in the bottom of the third, back-to-back singles by
Alex Malsch and
Kody Ruedisili gave the Terriers runners on the corners. An RBI single by
McClain Bradley cut the lead to 3-1 and moved Ruedisili to third base, but a double play ended the third inning.
Both teams were retired in order in the fourth inning and the Keydets went in order in the top of the fifth inning. With one out in the bottom of the fifth,
Mack Nathanson doubled and a single by
Alex Malsch made it a 3-2 game. After a walk by
Kody Ruedisili,
McClain Bradley singled to tie the game at 3-3. The Keydets then turned their third double play of the game to end the fifth frame.
In the sixth inning, both teams were retired in order. The Keydets led off the seventh with a walk, but a sacrifice bunt and double play ended the top half.
Mack Nathanson singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh and moved to second on a ground out. He stole third and scored on a throwing error to give Wofford a 4-3 lead. VMI went in order in the top of the eighth inning.
McClain Bradley led off the bottom half of the eighth with a single.
Brett Hash then took a ball deep over the fence in left field for a 6-3 lead. It was his eighth home run of the season.
Ty Reginelli added a pinch hit single and an RBI double by
Carson Waln pushed the lead to 7-3. Waln moved to third on a balk and scored on a single from
Max McDougald. A walk was followed by an RBI single from
Alex Malsch to push the lead to 9-3. With the bases loaded after a hit by pitch, an RBI single by
McClain Bradley plated a run and then a walk by
Brett Hash made it 11-3. A wild pitch with the bases loaded added a run. A sacrifice fly by
Carson Waln gave the Terriers a 13-3 lead, at which point the game was called.
Wofford starter
Austin Higginbotham went six innings with three runs allowed on six hits and five strikeouts.
Matt Ellmyer (1-1) earned his first career win by going two innings without allowing a hit and one strikeout.
Brandon Barbery (0-5) was the Keydets starter and threw seven innings with four runs allowed on eight hits, along with six strikeouts. Derek Tremblay, Blaine Lafin, Jack Gomersall and John Fuqua combined to give up nine runs on seven hits in the eighth inning.
Wofford will travel to UNC Asheville on Tuesday for a 6:00 p.m. contest and then begin a three-game Southern Conference road series at UNCG on Thursday night.
