SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the season opener, the Wofford College baseball team defeated Binghamton 15-1 on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Bearcats had a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but the Terriers scored four runs each in the second and third innings along with six runs in the fifth inning for the victory.
 
Wofford opens the season at 1-0 for the second straight season, while Binghamton is 0-1. The Terriers were led by freshman Shane Lussier with a 4-for-4 performance from the plate with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. John Dempsey added four RBIs, while Lawson Hill, Colin Davis and Alec Cargin had two hits each. The Bearcats were held to five hits on the night, two of which were by Alex Baratta.
 
The Bearcats opened the game with a single and with one out a double gave them an early 1-0 lead before a pair of strikeouts ended the top of the first. Brett Rodriguez walked to begin the bottom of the first, but a strikeout and double play ended the frame. Binghamton was struck out in order at the top of the second. In the bottom of the second, John Dempsey walked and Colin Davis singled. A walk by Andrew Orzel had the bases loaded. With one out, Shane Lussier had a single in his first career at bat to score Dempsey and tie the game at 1-1. Brett Rodriguez singled with two outs to drive in a pair of runs for a 3-1 advantage. A double steal advanced Rodriguez to second and Lussier scored for a 4-1 lead.
 
In the top of the third inning, Binghamton left two runners on base. Lawson Hill reached on an error and Colin Davis singled, while Andrew Orzel was hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases. Singles by Alec Cargin and Shane Lussier each drove in runs for a 6-1 lead. A wild pitch advanced the runners for a score and an RBI ground out by Mike Brown pushed the advantage to 8-1. After the Bearcats stranded one runner in the top of the fourth after a single, Hudson Byorick led off for the Terriers by reaching on an error. Lawson Hill added a single to put runners on the corners and a ground out by John Dempsey scored Byorick for a 9-1 lead. The Bearcats had a single in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Alec Cargin led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run over the fence in right field to make it a 10-1 game. It was his fifth career home run. Shane Lussier followed with a triple, with a walk to Brett Rodriguez and Hudson Byorick getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lawson Hill singled and moved to second on a throw as he drove in two runs. John Dempsey cleared the fence in right field for a three-run homer as Wofford extended the lead to 15-1. It was his eighth career home run.
 
After the Bearcats were retired in order in the top of the sixth inning, Shane Lussier had a single with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Binghamton turned a double play to end the frame. In the seventh inning, Binghamton was retired in order and Wofford left one runner on base. Both teams went in order in the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, the Bearcats led off with a single before a ground out and two strikeouts ended the game.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Reece Maniscalco threw 2.1 innings with seven strikeouts and one run allowed. Jake Hershman (1-0) went 4.2 innings with two hits allowed and five strikeouts. O'Kelly McWilliams made his first collegiate appearance and worked an inning with two strikeouts. Clay Schwaner gave up one hit with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.
 
Thomas Babalis (0-1) started for Binghamton and allowed eight runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. Greg Satriale worked 2.2 innings with seven runs allowed on five hits and three strikeouts. Doug Goodwin went the final 3.0 innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
 
Wofford and Binghamton will continue the series at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.