SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 11-5 by UNCG at Russell C. King Field. The Spartans had an 8-2 lead after five innings and held the Terriers to eight hits in the game to even the weekend series at one game each.
 
Wofford is now 29-15 on the season and 10-4 in the Southern Conference. UNCG is 30-11 overall and 11-3 in the league. The Terriers were led by Colin Davis with three hits and two RBIs, while Andrew Orzel added a two-run homer. Tripp Shelton was 4-of-5 for the Spartans, including two home runs and five RBIs.  
 
Both teams had a single in the first inning. Tripp Shelton led off the second inning with a solo home run to left center to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. UNCG stranded two runners in the top of the second. Brett Rodriguez opened the bottom of the second with a double and he stole third base, but was unable to score. The Spartans began the third inning with a runner reaching on an error and a bunt single. The runners advanced on a fly ball into scoring position and then a home run by Tripp Shelton, his second of the day, cleared the bases for a 4-0 lead for the Spartans. Wofford was retired in order to end the third inning.
 
The Spartans had runners at second and third base with one out when a sacrifice fly added a run to make it a 5-0 game. Wofford went in order to end the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth, the Spartans had back-to-back singles to lead off. A fly ball moved the runners into scoring position and a sacrifice bunt plated a run. Back-to-back RBI singles gave the Spartans an 8-0 lead. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Wofford loaded the bases with a walk, single and hit by pitch. After a runner was picked off first, Colin Davis hit a triple to right center to drive in two runs and cut the lead to 8-2.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Andrew Moritz hit a solo home run to lead off for a 9-2 advantage. Wofford's Andrew Orzel was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but a double play ended the inning. The Spartans had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the seventh after a pair of walks and a single. A fly ball left three runners stranded at the seventh inning stretch. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
 
A batter reached on an error to begin the eighth inning for the Spartans. An RBI single made it a 10-2 game. After a double, a ground out plated a run to push the lead to 11-2. Colin Davis doubled with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and scored on a single by McClain Bradley. A fielder's choice by Mack Nathanson was followed by a two-run homer by Andrew Orzel cut the lead to 11-5. It was his second home run of the season. The Spartans left on runner on base in the top of the ninth after a Wofford error. Wofford had a single by Chris Rubottom with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but he was stranded at third when the game ended.
 
Austin Higginbotham (5-3) started for the Terriers and went 4.2 innings with eight runs allowed on 11 hits, along with two strikeouts. Ty Reginelli worked 2.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits. David Ehmen faced one batter and recorded one out. Tyler McGuigan went two-thirds of an inning with two runs allowed on two hits. Jake Dippold threw the final 1.1 innings and did not allow a hit.
 
UNCG starting pitcher Bryce Hensley (5-2) threw 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six batters. Easton Welch earned his second save of the season by going the final three innings with three runs allowed on four hits and five strikeouts.
 
Wofford and UNCG will conclude the weekend series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Terriers will host Presbyterian College on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m.