CHARLESTON, S.C. – In the opening game of a weekend series, the Wofford College baseball team defeated The Citadel 17-7 at Riley Park on Friday night. With a 5-3 lead after three innings, the Terriers plated five runs in the fifth inning to build a 10-3 advantage. Wofford added six runs in the seventh inning on the way to the win.
 
Wofford is 27-20 overall and 9-6 in the Southern Conference. The Citadel is 10-34 on the season and 3-13 in the league. The Terriers had a season-high 23 hits in the game, the fourth-most in school history and one off the record of 24 hits. John Dempsey, Andrew Orzel and Colin Davis led the way with four hits each, while Davis and Lawson Hill each had four RBIs. The Bulldogs were led by Tyler Corbitt with three hits and Ryan McCarthy with three RBIs.
 
The Terriers opened the game with a single by Mike Brown and a single by Brett Rodriguez put runners on the corners. A fielder's choice by Hudson Byorick scored Brown for a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs had a single with one out, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. A ground out tied the game at 1-1.
 
John Dempsey led off the second inning with a single and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Colin Davis singled, with Dempsey moving to third on a throwing error during the play. Alec Cargin hit into a double play, but Dempsey scored for a 2-1 lead. Andrew Orzel and Reed Massey added singles and moved into scoring position on a double steal. An infield single by Mike Brown drove in both runners for a 4-1 advantage in the middle of the second. The Citadel was retired in order to end the inning.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, John Dempsey and Colin Davis had back-to-back doubles to make it a 5-1 game. The Bulldogs had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the third when a single and error allowed two runs to score and the Wofford lead was cut to 5-3.
 
Andrew Orzel reached on an error to begin the fourth inning and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Mike Brown singled and moved to third on an error, which allowed Orzel to score for a 6-3 advantage. A sacrifice fly by Brett Rodriguez drove in Brown. Hudson Byorick singled and took second on an error, with an advance to third on a wild pitch. A single by Lawson Hill dropped in shallow right field and Byorick scored as Wofford took an 8-3 lead. John Dempsey added a single and Colin Davis doubled to right center to plate two more runs but was out at third on the play. The Terriers had a 10-3 lead in the middle of the fourth inning.
 
The Bulldogs had a double to begin the bottom of the fourth inning, but the runner was stranded at third to end the frame. Wofford left Andrew Orzel on second base in the top of the fifth inning after a single and error. In the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs added a single but the runner was out at second trying to reach on a wild pitch.
 
Hudson Byorick doubled with one out in the top of the sixth inning and moved to third on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Lawson Hill gave Wofford an 11-3 lead. The Bulldogs went in order to end the sixth inning. Alec Cargin walked and Andrew Orzel singled to lead off the seventh inning. A single by Reed Massey drove in both runners for a 13-3 score and Mike Brown followed with a walk. With one out, a double by Hudson Byorick scored Massey and then a double by Lawson Hill plated two runs for a 16-3 advantage. Colin Davis added an RBI single with two outs. The Citadel was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Wofford left two runners on base in the top of the eighth after a single by Andrew Orzel and a walk by Mike Brown. The Bulldogs had a solo home run by Ryan McCarthy to led off the bottom of the eighth and make it a 17-4 game. They left one on base after a single with one out. The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, the Bulldogs had the bases loaded after two walks and a single. A single drove in two runs and a double added a run for a 17-7 margin. Two strikeouts ended the game.
 
David Yourke started for Wofford and went three innings with three runs allowed on three hits, along with two strikeouts. Reece Maniscalco (3-1) threw a career-long five innings with one run allowed on four hits. He had a career-high ten strikeouts and did not issue a walk. Jake Zoller gave up three runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Ty Reginelli closed the game with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
 
The Citadel starter Jordan Merritt (3-6) threw five innings with 15 hits allowed and ten runs scored. Devin Beckley gave up six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings. Lathan Todd went 1.2 innings with one run allowed on three hits and three strikeouts. Jordan Buster threw the ninth and struck out two batters.
 
Wofford will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m., looking for a series win for the sixth-straight season over the Bulldogs.