SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 2-1 by Fordham at Russell C. King Field. The Rams scored two runs on three hits in the first inning. Despite being held without a hit for the rest of the game, the Rams held Wofford to only one run to secure the win.
Wofford opens the season 0-2, while Fordham is 1-1. The Terriers were led by
Cody Miller with two hits and an RBI, while
McClain Bradley added a hit. Billy Godrick led the Rams with a solo home run as they had only three hits in the game. The teams combined for 23 strikeouts in the contest.
The Rams led off the game with a solo home run by Billy Godrick. A single and double gave the Rams runners in scoring position. With one out, a ground out plated a run for a 2-0 lead in the middle of the first.
Brett Rodriguez and
McClain Bradley walked to lead off the bottom of the first. With one out, a walk to
Cody Miller loaded the bases but a double play ended the scoring chance. Fordham was retired in order in the top of the second.
Wofford went in order to end the second inning and the Rams left one on base in the top of the third inning.
McClain Bradley reached first base on an error in the bottom of the third, but a fielder's choice ended the frame. The Rams left one runner on base in the top of the fourth.
The Terriers led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk by
Cody Miller, but he was unable to advance. Fordham stranded one runner in the top of the fifth after a Wofford fielding error. Wofford struck out in order to end the fifth inning and the Rams went in order in the top of the sixth frame.
McClain Bradley singled to left center to open the bottom of the sixth. With one out,
Cody Miller put a ball in the left field corner for an RBI double to make it a 2-1 game.
In the top of the seventh, two strikeouts and a great defensive play by shortstop
Alex Malsch sent the Rams down in order. Wofford had
Alex Malsch walk with two outs and he stole second, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance. The Rams were retired in order in the top of the eighth.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth,
Mack Nathanson was hit by a pitch.
Cody Miller singled and David Keller entered to pinch run. A wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position.
Mack Nathanson was out at home on a fielder's choice by
Max McDougald. A ground out ended the scoring chance for Wofford in the eighth. The Rams had one runner reach base on a walk with two outs in the top of the ninth. A strikeout ended the top half. Wofford was retired in order to end the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Austin Higginbotham (0-1) started for the Terriers and threw six innings with two runs allowed. He struck out five batters with one walk.
Jake Hershman went the final three innings and did not allow a hit with four strikeouts.
Fordham starter Ben Greenberg went three innings without allowing a hit. He struck out four batters and walked four. Matt Mikulski (1-0) threw 3.2 innings with one run allowed on two hits, along with seven strikeouts. Alvin Melendez earned the save by allowing just one hit in the final 2.1 innings with three strikeouts.
The Terriers will host Dayton on Sunday at 1:00 pm to wrap up the opening weekend.
