GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 6-5 by VMI on Thursday afternoon in the 2017 Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field. The Keydets scored the first five of their runs on the long ball, with two-run homers in the first and sixth inning, along with a solo home run in the eighth. Wofford tied the game with a run in the ninth inning, but VMI scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the tenth.
           
Wofford ends the season with a 28-30 record. VMI is 24-33 overall and advance to face either ETSU or UNCG on Friday at 7:00 p.m. The Terriers were led by Mack Nathanson with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Wofford had 13 hits in the game and left 13 runners on base. The Keydets had 4 hits, including five for extra bases. Collin Fleischer led VMI with two hits and two RBIs.
 
Kody Ruedisili singled to open the game and McClain Bradley followed with a fielder's choice, but he was stranded at second base. The Keydets led off with a single and then Matt Pita hit a ball into the seats on the green monster in left field for a 2-0 advantage. Mack Nathanson singled to start the second inning, but it was followed by a double play. Max McDougald added a single and Alex Malsch was safe on a bunt single. Brett Rodriguez walked to load the bases and a full count walk to Kody Ruedisili plated a run. A strikeout left the bases loaded with the Terriers trailing 2-1 in the middle of the second inning.
 
The Keydets were retired in order in the bottom of the second. With one out in the top of the third, Carson Waln singled but he was caught stealing to end the top half. VMI left one runner on base to end the third inning after a single with two outs. Reed Massey singled to begin the fourth inning and Max McDougald followed with a single. The runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Brett Rodriguez reached on an error, with both runners scoring on the errant throw for a 3-2 lead. The Keydets left a runner on second to end the fourth inning after a walk.
 
Brett Hash reached on an error to lead off the fifth inning. Reed Massey singled with two outs, but a strikeout ended the top half. With one out, the Keydets singled. A fielder's choice and strikeout ended the fifth inning. Brett Rodriguez walked with one out in the top of the sixth inning, but the Keydets turned a double play to end the Wofford half. A triple into the right field corner by Peyton Maddox led off the bottom of the sixth for VMI. A home run by Collin Fleischer gave the Keydets a 4-3 advantage. VMI added a double before a strikeout ended the sixth inning.
 
In the top of the seventh, Carson Waln singled and moved to second on a failed pick-off attempt. A single to left field by Mack Nathanson with two outs scored Waln to tie the game at 4. Reed Massey walked, but a ground out brought the game to the seventh inning stretch. The Keydets left one on base in the bottom of the seventh after a hit by pitch.
 
The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the eighth inning. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Jake Huggins hit a solo home run to right center for a 5-4 lead. VMI added a single, but the runner was picked off. Another single was followed by a strikeout to end the eighth. McClain Bradley led off the ninth with a triple off the wall in right center. With one out, Carson Waln was hit by a pitch. An infield single by Mack Nathanson drove in Bradley to tie the game at five. A strikeout and fly ball ended the top half with two runners stranded.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Keydets led off with a walk. A foul out on a diving catch by Reed Massey was followed by a fielder's choice. A ground out sent the game to the tenth inning. Alex Malsch led off the tenth with a double to left field. With one out, Kody Ruedisili walked. A diving grab in right center was the second out and a ground out left two runners stranded. The Keydets singled to open the bottom of the tenth. A fielder's choice was followed by a single through the right side. A single was hit to center and the lead runner was thrown out at home on the play. With runners at second and third, a single up the middle by Michael Diodato drove in the winning run in the 6-5 victory.
 
Wofford starter Austin Higginbotham threw 5.1 innings with four runs allowed on seven hits, while striking out five. Spencer Kulman gave up a solo home run and struck out four batters in 2.2 innings. Matt Ellmyer threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit. Reece Maniscalco (1-2) allowed one run on four hits in an inning.
 
Brandon Barbery started for the Keydets and went 3.1 innings with three runs allowed on seven hits, along with one strikeout. Zak Kent threw 3.1 innings with one run allowed on three hits and four strikeouts. Derek Trembley went a third of an inning and did not allow a hit. Ryan Bennett (6-1) worked the final three innings with one run allowed on three hits and he struck out three batters.
 
The game was only the second this season to go extra innings for Wofford (1-1).