SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team rallied late to earn a 7-5 win over Gardner-Webb at Russell C. King Field on Sunday. The Runnin' Bulldogs had a 5-1 lead in the middle of the sixth inning. A three-run homer by Matty Brown in the bottom of the sixth made it a one-run game. Wofford added three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead and the win.
 
Wofford opens the season 10-6, while Gardner-Webb is 7-5 overall. Wofford swept all three games of the weekend series against Gardner-Webb. The Terriers were led by Matty Brown with three hits and three RBIs, while Andrew Orzel added three hits. Gardner-Webb had three hits and two RBIs from Justin Kunz to lead the team.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the game with a runner reaching second on an error. A single drove in the runner for a 1-0 lead. Wofford left one runner on base after a single by Brett Rodriguez. In the top of the second, Gardner-Webb opened with back-to-back singles but the runners were stranded in scoring position. Wofford went in order to end the second inning and the Runnin' Bulldogs were retired in order in the top of the third inning.
 
The Terriers had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the third after a walk by Mike Brown and a hit-and-run by Andrew Orzel. A fielder's choice by Colin Davis allowed Brown to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Gardner-Webb led off the fourth inning with a single. A sacrifice bunt and passed ball moved the runner to third and with one out a single made it a 2-1 score. Lawson Hill was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the fourth, but he was stranded at third to end the frame. In the top of the fifth, Gardner-Webb started with a double, single and RBI double to take a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 4-1 and a ground out ended the top half.
 
Matty Brown had a single to start the bottom of the fifth and with one out Andrew Orzel added a single. The runners advanced on a fly ball, but were stranded at the end of the inning. With two outs in the top of the sixth, the Runnin' Bulldogs put together three straight singles and had a 5-1 lead before a ground out ended the half.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Hudson Byorick walked and with two outs Josh Congdon singled. Matty Brown cleared the fence in right field for his first career home run and cut the lead to 5-4. The Runnin' Bulldogs left two runners on base in the top of the seventh after a single and hit by pitch. In the bottom of the seventh, Andrew Orzel singled to lead off and took second base and third base on wild pitches. A single up the middle by Colin Davis scored Orzel to tie the game at 5-5. Davis stole second and the Terriers had runners on the corners after Lawson Hill reached on an error. Singles by Hudson Byorick and John Dempsey plated runs to give the Terriers a 7-5 lead.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs were retired in order in the top of the eighth inning. Matty Brown had a single to lead off the bottom of the eighth, but was picked off second base. In the top of the ninth, the Runnin' Bulldogs had a runner reach on a walk with one out. A pair of strikeouts ended the game.
 
Wofford starter Cameron Bloodworth threw 4.2 innings with four runs allowed on nine hits, along with three strikeouts. Anthony Garcia went an inning with one run allowed on three hits, plus one strikeout. Rasesh Pandya (1-0) threw 2.1 innings and allowed only one hit while striking out one batter for his first career win. Reece Maniscalco had two strikeouts in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
 
Kyle Ruehlman started for Gardner-Webb and went six innings with four runs allowed on six hits while striking out two batters. Langdon Wilson (2-2) gave up two runs on two hits. Jarrett Thompson threw the final two innings with one run allowed on three hits and one strikeout.
 
Next week Wofford will host Ohio State on Tuesday, March 12, at 5:00 p.m. at King Field. The Terriers will host Bryant at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, before a home weekend series against Lafayette.