GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team fell behind early in a 13-3 opening round loss to Furman in the 2017 Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field. The Paladins scored four runs in the first inning and added eight runs in the fourth on the way to the victory.
           
Wofford is 28-29 on the season and Furman is 30-26 overall. The Terriers had three hits from Kody Ruedisili and McClain Bradley drove in two runs on a homer in the sixth. Furman had 17 hits in the game, including three each from Sky Overton and Carter Grote. Cameron Whitehead had three RBIs.
 
"In the first game I really don't think any team calms down until they hang a zero on the defensive side," said Wofford head coach Todd Interdonato. "Being the home team is such an advantage. There guy (Gaddis) came out and struck out two in the first and put up a zero. I thought we had a chance to get out of the first inning by minimizing the damage, but the three-run home run gave us an uphill battle. We got one to make it five to one and then it got away from us. I have to give Furman a lot of credit because they put balls into play and didn't strikeout. We are going to regroup and come back tomorrow ready to play."
 
After Wofford was retired in order in the top of the first, the Paladins led off with an infield single. The runner moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and a single had runners on the corners. A double by Landon Kay gave Furman a 1-0 lead. A home run by Cameron Whitehead drove in three runs for a 4-0 advantage. The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the second and Furman opened the bottom half with a single. A sacrifice bunt and ground out moved the runner to third base, while a double by Carter Grote drove in a run for a 5-0 lead.
 
The Terriers went in order in the top of the third and the Paladins started the bottom half with a single, but the runner was left on first. Kody Ruedisili led off the fourth inning with a double off the wall in left field. After a ground out, he scored on a sacrifice fly by Brett Hash for a 5-1 score. Furman had two infield singles to lead off the bottom of the fourth. A bunt single and an error allowed a run to score for a 6- l lead. Back-to-back RBI singles pushed the lead to 8-1. With the bases loaded and one out, a bunt single plated a run. Another single made it 10-1 and a wild pitch with the bases still loaded gave Furman an 11-1 lead. A single by Sky Overton drove in two more runs before a fly ball ended the fourth inning with the Paladins holding a 13-1 advantage.
 
Wofford had back-to-back singles from Reed Massey and Max McDougald with one out in the top of the fifth inning, but both runners were left on base. The Paladins led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, however a double play and ground out ended the inning. Kody Ruedisili led off the sixth with a double to left center. A home run by McClain Bradley, his eighth of the season, cut the lead to 13-3. Brett Hash was hit by a pitch and with one out Mack Nathanson was hit by a pitch. A ground out advanced the runners into scoring position, but both were stranded.
 
The Paladins left one runner on base in the bottom of the sixth after an infield single. Cody Miller singled to lead off the top of the seventh inning and Alex Malsch followed with a single. Cody Miller was picked off second for the first out and Kody Ruedisili hit a single up the middle for runners on the corners. A double play ended the game, as the Paladins led 13-3.
 
Wofford starter Adam Scott (6-6) gave up a season-high ten runs on eleven hits in three innings. He had two strikeouts, bringing his season total to 108, the third most in a single season in school history. Jake Hershman worked two innings with three run allowed on three hits. Grant Byers went an inning with one hit allowed.
 
First team All-Southern Conference pitcher Will Gaddis (9-3) started for the Paladins and went five innings with one run allowed on three hits. He struck out four batters and did not issue a walk. Nolan Mullen allowed two runs on two hits in an inning on the mound. Billy Greenfield gave up three hits but did not allow a run in an inning.
 
The Southern Conference Tournament will continue for the Terriers on Thursday against  #9 seed VMI, who was defeated 11-6 by #1 seed Mercer. The game is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at Fluor Field.