SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team defeated The Citadel 8-5 on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Bulldogs scored an unearned run in the first inning, but the Terriers responded with six runs in the third inning to take the lead. Wofford held an 8-2 lead after five innings. The Citadel scored three runs in the sixth to cut the advantage to 8-5 and had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning when the Terriers turned a double play to end the game.
 
Wofford is now 27-13 on the season and 8-3 in the Southern Conference. The Citadel is 14-24 overall and 3-8 in the league. The Terriers clinched a series win over the Bulldogs for the fifth straight season. Wofford was led by McClain Bradley and Andrew Orzel with two hits each. The Bulldogs had 13 hits in the game, three of which were by William McKinney.
 
The Bulldogs led off the game with a runner reaching on an error. With one out, an RBI single made it a 1-0 score. Colin Davis and McClain Bradley had back-to-back walks to lead off the Wofford half of the first inning. A bunt single by Mack Nathanson loaded the bases, but the Terriers were unable to score a run. In the top of the second, the Bulldogs stranded a runner at second after a two-out double. Lawson Hill singled with one out in the bottom of the second, but was caught stealing second base to end the inning.
 
In the top of the third inning, the Bulldogs were retired in order. Colin Davis doubled to right center to open the bottom of the third. McClain Bradley followed with a double to score Davis and he moved to third on a fielding error. A third straight double, this one by Mack Nathanson, scored Bradley for a 2-1 advantage. Andrew Orzel singled to put runners on the corners and a single by Brett Rodriguez pushed the lead to 3-1. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, with Orzel scoring for a 4-1 lead. Back-to-back walks to Cody Miller and Max McDougald loaded the bases. The Bulldogs turned a double play, but a run scored for a 5-1 game. Alex Malsch doubled with two outs and drove in a run as the Terriers took a 6-0 lead after three innings.
 
A double led off the top of the fourth for The Citadel and a single with one out plated a run to cut the score to 6-2. They added another single, but stranded both runners. McClain Bradley walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth. He stole second and went to third on a failed pickoff, while Andrew Orzel was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. On a double steal attempt, Bradley scored but Orzel was out at second for a 7-2 game. Brett Rodriguez walked, stole second base and on a steal of third base there was an error on the throw and he scored for an 8-2 margin.
 
The Citadel had a pair of singles with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs had back-to-back singles and added a double to drive in a run. With one out, a single plated two runs for an 8-5 game and a pair of fielder's choices ended the top half.
 
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, McClain Bradley walked and stole second. He moved to third on a balk and Mack Nathanson was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. A double play ended the scoring chance for the Terriers. The Bulldogs had a runner reach on an error in the top of the seventh, but was stranded. In the bottom half, Wofford added a pair of singles and with two outs a walk to Alex Malsch loaded the bases. A fly ball to center ended the seventh inning with three runners left on base.
 
A walk led off the eighth inning for the Bulldogs, but the runner was left on second base. Andrew Orzel singled for the Terriers with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and was unable to advance. In the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs led off with a single. With one out, a single put runners on the corners.
 
Austin Higginbotham (5-2) started for the Terriers and went 6.1 innings with five runs allowed on eleven hits. He had three strikeouts and did not issue a walk in the win. Anthony Garcia earned his fifth save of the season by throwing the final 2.2 innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts.
 
The Citadel starting pitcher Thomas Byelick (0-6) threw two innings with five runs allowed on seven hits, along with two strikeouts. Alex Bialakis walked the one batter he faced and gave up a run. Zach Taglieri went an inning with one hit allowed. Ian Foggo worked 2.1 innings with two runs allowed and a strikeout. Hunter Barbee added 1.2 innings with two hits allowed. Ryan Stamler gave up one hit in the ninth inning.
 
Wofford and The Citadel will conclude the series at King Field on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Terriers will play at Winthrop on Tuesday night before returning home on Friday for the start of a three-game series against UNCG.