CLINTON, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 5-4 by Presbyterian College on Wednesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex. The Blue Hose scored three times in the third inning, but the Terriers battled back to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. Presbyterian regained the lead with one run in the bottom of the seventh and held on for the win.
 
Wofford opens the season 7-6, while Presbyterian is 6-6. The teams will meet again on March 27 and April 10. The Terriers were led by Nolen Hester with three hits and two RBIs, while Mike Brown and Colin Davis added RBIs. Graham Mitchell led the Blue Hose with two hits and a pair of RBIs.
 
The Terriers left one runner on base in the top of the first inning after Brett Rodriguez walked. The Blue Hose had a player walk with two outs, but he was caught stealing second base to end the inning. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the second and Presbyterian stranded two runners after a single and a fielding error.
 
Wofford went in order in the top of the third inning. The Blue Hose had runners on the corners with one out after a pair of singles. After a wild pitch, a single up the middle scored both runs to give Presbyterian a2-0 lead. A single and a ground out enabled the Blue Hose to add a run before a strikeout ended the inning. Lawson Hill singled with two outs in the top of the fourth inning but was unable to advance.
 
After the Blue Hose were retired in order in the bottom of the fourth, the Terriers led off the fifth with singles John Dempsey and Hudson Byorick. A sacrifice bunt by Reed Massey moved up the runners and a ground out by Mike Brown drove in a run. A single by Nolen Hester plated a run for a 3-2 score. Colin Davis added a single, but the Terriers left two runners on base.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Hose had a single and then a batter reached on an error. With one out and runners on the corners after a fielder's choice, an attempted double steal plated a run and an out was recorded at second. A strikeout ended the inning with Presbyterian leading 4-2. Wofford went in order in the top of the sixth inning and the Blue Hose stranded one after a single.
 
Hudson Byorick opened the seventh inning by reaching third base on an error. Mike Brown was hit by a pitch with one out to put runners on the corners. A bunt single by Nolen Hester scored Byorick to cut the lead to 4-3 and Mike Brown moved to third base on the play. Colin Davis had a sacrifice fly that scored Brown to tie the game at 4-4. Brett Rodriguez reach on an error and a double steal put runners in scoring position, but both were stranded.
 
The Blue Hose had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, with all three batters being hit by a pitch. A single gave Presbyterian a 5-4 lead at the end of the inning. Andrew Orzel singled to lead off the eighth inning, but a fly ball and double play ended the top half. Rasesh Pandya struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, Josh Congdon walked but the pinch runner was picked off. A fly ball was followed by a single by Nolen Hester, however a fly ball ended the game.
 
Jake Zoller started for Wofford and went 2.1 innings with two runs allowed on three hits, along with two strikeouts. Anthony Garcia worked 3.2 innings with two runs allowed on four hits and he struck out four batters. Matt Ellmyer (1-1) went two-thirds of an inning with one run allowed and two strikeouts. Rasesh Pandya gave up one hit and had three strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
 
Presbyterian starter Jackson Dean threw five innings with two runs allowed on five hits, while striking out four batters. Johnny Cook (1-0) went three innings with two runs allowed on two hits and two strikeouts. Colton Springs earned the save by going the final inning with one hit allowed.
 
On Friday, Wofford will begin a three-game weekend home series against Gardner-Webb at 5:00 p.m. The series continues at 3:00 p.m. Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Sunday, with all three games at Russell C. King Field.