SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team walked-off with a 9-8 win over Furman on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. After three scoreless innings to start the game, Wofford scored six runs in the fourth inning and one run in the fifth. The Paladins countered with four runs in the sixth inning, one in the seventh and three in the eighth to take the lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Mike Brown walked and a home run by Brett Rodriguez gave the Terriers the 9-8 walk-off win.
 
Wofford is 31-12 on the season and 12-8 in the Southern Conference. Furman is 23-28 overall and 11-10 in league play. Prior to the start of the contest, Wofford honored six seniors playing in their final home game: Anthony Garcia, Austin Higginbotham, Davis Keller, Reed Massey, Ty Reginelli and Thomas Tatham. Brett Rodriguez led the Terriers with two home runs and a double, along with three RBIs. Colin Davis added two hits and a pair of RBIs. Furman had 13 hits in the game, including four by Trent Alley.
 
Both teams were retired in order in the first inning. After the Paladins went in order in the top of the second inning, Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the second after John Dempsey reached on an error. The Paladins stranded a runner in the top of the third inning after a walk and the Terriers went in order to end the frame.
 
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, the Paladins had a double but a strikeout ended the top half. Brett Rodriguez led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and Hudson Byorick followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners and a wild pitch plated a run. An infield single by John Dempsey added a run for a 2-0 lead. Colin Davis sent a ball over the fence in right center for his sixth home run of the season to give the Terriers a 4-0 advantage. Nolen Hester was hit by a pitch and Andrew Orzel walked. With two outs a single by Mike Brown through the right side scored both runners for a 6-0 lead.  
 
The Paladins added a single with one out in the top of the fifth inning but stranded the runner. Brett Rodriguez led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run, his third of the season, for a 7-0 advantage. Furman opened the sixth inning with a single and followed with a double. A double to right center scored both runners to make it 7-2. On a single to right field, the runner at second was thrown out at home. With two outs, Jared Mihalik hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to 7-4. Wofford left Andrew Orzel on base in the bottom of the sixth after he was hit by a pitch.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Paladins led off with a double and the runner advanced to third on a passed ball. A ground out scored the run for a 7-5 game at the stretch. Wofford was retired in order to end the seventh inning. Dax Roper opened the eighth inning with a solo home run to make it a 7-6 game. Back-to-back doubles tied the game at 7-7. A walk and a sacrifice bunt had runners in scoring position when an infield single plated a run for an 8-7 lead. A strikeout and fly ball ended the top of the eighth.
 
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Colin Davis singled and Nolen Hester was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice by Andrew Orzel had runners on the corners with two outs. Orzel stole second before a line out ended the scoring chance. The Paladins added a single with two outs in the top of the ninth but the runner was picked off to end the top half. Mike Brown led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk. Brett Rodriguez hit a ball to left center that cleared the fence to end the game. It was his second home run of the day and fourth of the season as Wofford won 9-8.
 
 
Senior Thomas Tatham started for the Terriers and faced one batter for one out. Austin Higginbotham went 6.2 innings with five runs allowed on eight hits and two strikeouts. Anthony Garcia gave up three runs on three hits. Rasesh Pandya (4-2) threw the final two innings with two hits allowed and a strikeout to earn the win.
 
Furman starter Matt Lazzaro went 3.1 innings with four runs allowed on three hits and a strikeout. Nik Verbeke gave up two run on one hit in a third of an inning. Rob Hughes worked a third of an inning. Hank Nichols went an inning with one run allowed on a hit along with a strikeout. Jordan Beatson did not allow a hit in two innings on the mound. Eric Taylor (1-2) gave up two runs on two hits in an inning.  
 
The Terriers will travel to UNCG for the final series of the season with the first game on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.