SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 12-11 by Bryant on Wednesday at Russell C. King Field. The Bulldogs took a 6-1 lead after three innings. The Terriers battled back and scored four runs in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game at 10. Bryant scored twice in the seventh inning and Wofford plated a run in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, the Terriers had two runners in scoring position when a ground ball ended the game.
 
Wofford opens the season 11-7, while Bryant is 8-6 overall. The teams combined for 28 hits in the game and 14 pitchers were used. The Terriers were led by Ethan Cornelius with his first two hits of the season – including a home run – and four RBIs. Johnn Dempsey added three hits. Bryant was led by Ryan Ward with four hits and three RBIs.
 
The Bulldogs had one out in the top of the first when a single and walk were followed by an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. A hit by pitch loaded the bases, but a pop up ended the scoring chance. Wofford had a single by Hudson Byorick in the bottom of the first inning.
 
With two outs and runners at second and third, a single by Bryant drove in both runners for a 3-0 lead. After a walk, a double scored two more runs to give the Bulldogs a 5-0 advantage. Two runners were left on base at the end of the top of the second inning. John Dempsey led off the bottom of the second with a double down the right field line. With one out, he scored on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Cornelius to make it a 5-1 game.
 
In the top of the third inning, a double was followed by a single with two outs to push the Byrant lead to 6-1. Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the third after Hudson Byorick reached on a walk. Ryan Ward had a solo home run to begin the fourth inning. With two runners on base, Wofford turned a double play to end the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, three straight singles by Lawson Hill, John Dempsey and Colin Davis loaded the bases. A single to shallow left field by Ethan Cornelius drove in two runs to cut the lead to 7-3. With one out an RBI single by Mike Brown made it a 7-4 game and a sacrifice fly by Andrew Orzel resulted in a 7-5 score at the end of the frame.
 
Bryant added two runs in the top of the fifth inning on three hits. Wofford had two runners on base when a single by Colin Davis drove in a run to make it a 9-6 game. A walk loaded the bases with one out, but a fly ball and a throw to home turned a double play to end the inning. Bryant's Shane Kelly had a solo home run in the top of the sixth to take a 10-6 lead.
 
Wofford led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of walks to Mike Brown and Andrew Orzel. A single by Hudson Byorick scored Brown and a throwing error allowed Orzel to score and cut the lead to 10-8. Brett Rodriguez singled and drove in Byorick to make it a 10-9 game. A hit-and-run by Lawson Hill gave the Terriers runners on the corners. On a steal of second by Hill, a throwing error allowed Rodriguez to score and tie the game at 10. With the bases loaded a ground out ended the inning with the go-ahead runs stranded.
 
A solo home run by James Ciliento in the top of the seventh regained the lead for the Bulldogs at 11-10. Back-to-back doubles added a run and a double play ended the inning at 12-10. Wofford had runners on the corners after walks by Brett Rodriguez and Lawson Hill. An attempted double steal had Rodriguez out at home to end the seventh inning. Bryant was retired in order in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Ethan Cornelius hit a solo home run, the first of his career, to make it a 12-11 game.
 
In the top of the ninth with two outs, the Bulldogs had a batter hit by a pitch. An intentional walk had runners on the corners before a strikeout ended the top half. Mike Brown walked to begin the bottom of the ninth inning. He stole second on a strikeout and moved to third on a fly ball. Brett Rodriguez walked and stole second, but a ground out ended the game with the runners stranded.
 
Ty Reginelli started his first career game and went 1.2 innings with five runs allowed on four hits.  Chandler Woolridge made his first career appearance, going 1.2 innings with two runs allowed on three hits while striking out one batter. Jake Zoller worked 1.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with a strikeout. Matt Ellmyer (1-2) threw two innings with three runs allowed on four hits, while striking out two batters. Reece Maniscalco went the final two innings without allowing a hit and striking out five batters.
 
Craig Lacey started for Bryant and threw three innings with five runs allowed on six hits, along with two strikeouts. The Bulldogs used eight relief pitchers in the game, with Jack Owens (2-0) earning the win and Nathan Wrighter picking up the save.  
 
The Terriers will host Lafayette for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday at 5:00 p.m. at Russell C. King Field.