SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team rallied late for an 8-5 win over Samford at Russell C. King Field. With the game tied at 4-4 after six innings, the Terriers scored twice in the seventh inning. Samford answered with a run in the eighth and Wofford drove in two runs in the bottom of the frame for an 8-5 lead. The Bulldogs had the tying run at bat twice in the top of the ninth, but were unable to score.
 
Wofford is 26-18 overall and 8-5 in the Southern Conference. Samford is 32-12 on the season and 12-2 in league play to sit in first place. The weekend series is tied at one game each. Hudson Byorick and John Dempsey each had three of the Terriers twelve hits in the game, while Dempsey and Colin Davis each had a pair of RBIs. The Bulldogs also had twelve hits in the game.  
 
The Bulldogs had a single in the top of the first inning and then with two outs Jordan Fucci cleared the fence in right field for a 2-0 lead. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the first inning. Samford added two singles in the second inning but were unable to add to the lead. John Dempsey doubled to lead off the bottom of the second and Andrew Orzel had a single with one out. A sacrifice bunt by Alec Cargin scored Dempsey for a 2-1 score. Samford was retired in order in the top of the third inning.
 
Mike Brown reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the third inning. He moved to second and on a double by Hudson Byorick down the left field line scored to tie the game at 2-2. A single by John Dempsey scored Byorick from third base to give Wofford a 3-2 lead. Colin Davis singled and Andrew Orzel singled to load the bases, but a fielder's choice ended the third inning. Both teams were retired in order in the fourth inning.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs had one out and runners on the corners after an error and single. After a strikeout, a ground out ended the scoring chance. Hudson Byorick led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, but was thrown out at second trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt. Lawson Hill followed with a single and a double off the wall in right center by John Dempsey drove in Hill for a 4-2 advantage. With two outs Andrew Orzel was hit by a pitch before a ground out stranded two runners at the end of the fifth inning.  
 
Samford had back-to-back singles to open the sixth inning and a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners into scoring position. A single drove in both runs to tie the game at 4-4. With two outs and runners on the corners, a fielder's choice ended the top half. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Bulldogs left two on base in the top of the seventh after a walk and single.
 
Wofford began the bottom of the seventh with a single by Hudson Byorick and a walk by Lawson Hill. A sacrifice bunt by John Dempsey advanced the runners and a double by Colin Davis drove in both runners for a 6-4 lead. A strikeout and a fly ball ended the seventh inning. With two outs in the top of the eighth, the Bulldogs had a batter reach on a fielding error and a strikeout wild pitch. A single drove in one unearned run to cut the lead to 6-5 before a strikeout looking ended the top of the eighth.
 
Reed Massey singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning and Brett Rodriguez was hit by a pitch with one out. A single by Lawson Hill to right field scored Massey and the throw home got past the catcher and Rodriguez scored to make it an 8-5 game. The Bulldogs led off the ninth with an infield single and added a single with one out. A pair of fly balls ended the game.
 
Hayes Heinecke started for Wofford and went 5.3 innings with four runs allowed on eight hits. He struck out three batters. Reece Maniscalco (2-1) threw two innings and gave up one run on two hits, along with five strikeouts. Rasesh Pandya earned his first save of the season by going the final 1.1 innings without allowing a run on two hits and a strikeout.  
 
Samford starter Jesse McCord threw 4.1 innings with four runs allowed on eight hits and three strikeouts. Jack Rude (0-3) went 1.2 innings with two runs allowed on one hit and two strikeouts. Connor Radcliff allowed one hit in a third of an inning. Matthew Bennett recorded one strikeout. Hamp Skinner did not allow a hit in a third of an inning. Jalon Long went two-thirds of an inning with two runs allowed on two hits and a strikeout. Billy Creger recorded the final out on a fly ball.
 
Wofford and Samford will conclude the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.