SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the Southern Conference opener for the Wofford College baseball team on Friday, the Terriers defeated Mercer 4-1 at Russell C. King Field. Both teams scored in the fourth inning and Wofford took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the fifth inning. The Terriers added a run in the eighth inning for the win.
 
Wofford is 18-10 on the season and 1-0 in the Southern Conference. Mercer is 12-15 overall and 1-3 in league play. The Terriers were led by Austin Higginbotham who threw a complete game and allowed one run while striking out eleven. Andrew Orzel and Brett Rodriguez each had two hits and an RBI for Wofford. Kyle Dockus led the Bears with two hits in the game.
 
Both teams were retired in order in the first inning and Mercer went in order in the top of the second inning. Lawson Hill led off the bottom of the second with a double but was stranded at third. The Bears had a runner reach on an error, but was caught stealing to end the top half of the third inning.
 
Matty Brown opened the bottom of the third with a single and he moved to second on a wild pitch. After he was caught stealing third, Andrew Orzel doubled. A ground out ended the inning. Mercer led off the fourth with a double and the runner took third on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, a double drove in the run for a 1-0 lead. Brett Rodriguez doubled to begin the bottom of the fourth inning and then stole third base. A ground out by Lawson Hill scored Rodriguez to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Bears were retired in order in the top of the fifth inning. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Matty Brown singled and he moved to second on a ground out. A double by Andrew Orzel scored Brown for a 2-1 lead. Orzel stole third and scored on a throwing error on the play to give Wofford a 3-1 advantage. Mercer left two runners on base in the top of the sixth and Wofford stranded one in the bottom half of the sixth.
 
In the seventh inning both teams were retired in order. With one out in the top of the eighth, the Bears had a double. A single and a fielding error loaded the bases for Mercer. A strikeout and a fly ball to left field ended the inning with three runners stranded. After the Bears turned a double play in the bottom of the eighth, Brett Rodriguez cleared the fence in left field for a 4-1 lead. It was his second home run of the season. Mercer was retired in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
 
Austin Higginbotham (5-2) threw a complete game for the Terriers. In nine innings he allowed one run on four hits and issued two walks. He set a new career high with eleven strikeouts in the game.
 
Mercer starter Beau Healy (2-2) went six innings with three runs allowed on six hits, along with three strikeouts. Nick Spear threw the final two innings with one run allowed on one hit and one strikeout.
 
The Terriers and Bears will continue the series on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.