CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford College baseball team jumped out to an early lead in a 20-5 win over Western Carolina on Friday night at Hennon Stadium. The Terriers scored twice in the first inning and added eight runs in the second inning. Wofford added four more runs in the third inning for a 14-0 lead. In the last six innings, the Terriers outscored the Catamounts 6-5 for the 20-5 final score.
 
Wofford is 20-12 on the season and 3-1 in league play. Western Carolina is 12-14 overall and 2-5 in the SoCon. The 20 runs are the most scored this season by Wofford and the most since the Terriers plated 21 runs in 2017 against Furman. The Terriers were led by Colin Davis with three hits and three RBIs, while Brett Rodriguez scored five runs. Austin Higginbotham threw seven innings with seven strikeouts. Justice Bigbie had three hits to lead the Catamounts.
 
The Terriers started the game with Andrew Orzel and Brett Rodriguez being hit by pitch. They moved into scoring position on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Lawson Hill made it a 1-0 game. A sacrifice bunt by Colin Davis scored Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead. The Catamounts were retired in order in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Wofford began the second inning with a walk by Nolen Hester and a single by Matty Brown. A single by Mike Brown scored Hester and a walk to Andrew Orzel loaded the bases. A wild pitch advanced the runners and Matty Brown scored for a 4-0 advantage. A single by Brett Rodriguez drove in a run and a throwing error allowed Orzel to score for a 6-0 lead. Lawson Hill then singled through the left side and added a run to make it 7-0. Hudson Byorick singled up the middle and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch allowed Lawson Hill to score and a double by Colin Davis made it 9-0. A bunt single by Matty Brown scored Davis and Wofford had a 10-0 lead.
 
The Catamounts went in order in the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the third inning, Brett Rodriguez reached on a wild pitch and strikeout. Lawson Hill and Hudson Byorick walked to load the bases. A single by Colin Davis plated a run and a double by John Dempsey drove in two for a 13-0 advantage. A ground out scored a run, but the Terriers left two runners on base to end the top of the third with a 14-0 lead. Western Carolina was retired in order to end the third inning.
 
Brett Rodriguez walked to lead off the fourth inning. He moved to second on a ground out and took third on a wild pitch. Rodriguez was out at home on a fielder's choice by Hudson Byorick and a strikeout ended the top half. The Catamounts opened the bottom of the fourth with a single. A single and walk had the bases loaded with one out. A ground ball drove in a run and a single through the right side plated two runs for a 14-3 score. The Terriers had one runner reach base in the top of the fifth but was caught stealing.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Western Carolina had a single with one out and then the Terriers turned a double play to end the frame. Mike Brown, Brett Rodriguez and Lawson Hill walked to load the bases with one out in the top of the sixth inning. A pair of wild pitches score Brown and Rodriguez for a 16-3 advantage. With two outs, a walk to Hudson Byorick, single by Colin Davis and a walk by John Dempsey loaded the bases again. Nolen Hester was hit by a pitch and a run scored to make it 17-3 before a fly ball ended the inning with three runners stranded.
 
Western Carolina had a single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brett Rodriguez walked in the top of the seventh and was stranded at second base. The Catamounts were retired in order to end the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, Hudson Byorick walked and Reed Massey singled up the middle. A pair of fly balls ended the top half. The Catamounts led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and a double with two outs made it 17-4. An RBI single drove in a run before a line out ended the eighth inning.
 
In the ninth inning, Mike Brown singled and Andrew Orzel doubled to lead off. A double by Brett Rodriguez drove in both runners for a 19-5 lead. Alec Cargin added a single and a ground out by Matt Pagano made it 20-5. The Catamounts had a double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and a fly ball ended the game.
 
Austin Higginbotham (6-2) started for Wofford and worked seven innings with three runs allowed on five hits, along with seven strikeouts. Jake Dippold threw the final two innings with two runs allowed on four hits and two strikeouts.
 
Western Carolina starter Jacob Corn (3-1) went an inning with five runs allowed on two hits. Jake Moebius gave up three runs on two hits and Taylor Purus threw an inning with two runs allowed on three hits. Davis Tyndall went 3.2 innings with seven runs allowed on three hits and ten walks, along with four strikeouts. Mitch Rogers added 2.1 innings with one hit allowed. Andrew Bullock went the final inning with three runs allowed on four hits.
 
The Terriers and Catamounts continue the series on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.