SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team earned an 8-0 shutout of Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers scored six runs in the third inning to take the lead while Hayes Heinecke struck out a career-high 12 batters to enable the team to leap back into the win column.
 
Wofford is now 8-3 on the season, while Merrimack is 6-4 overall. The Terriers had 14 hits in the game, led by John Dempsey with three. Dempsey and Colin Davis had home runs in the game. The Warriors were held to just three hits, with none in the first five innings. It was the first shutout of the season for the Terriers and the first since March 19, 2019 against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
The Warriors left one runner on base in the top of the first inning after a wild pitch on a strikeout. Mike Brown led off the bottom of the first with an infield single. After Merrimack was retired in order in the top of the second inning, John Dempsey singled and Shane Lussier doubled however they were stranded in scoring position.
 
Merrimack was retired in order in the top of the third inning. Mike Brown walked to open the bottom of the third and he stole second base. A double by Hudson Byorick scored Brown and a single by Alec Cargin scored Byorick for a 2-0 advantage. Colin Davis then hit his second home run of the season to give Wofford a 4-0 lead. John Dempsey then hit his third home run of the season as he cleared the cages in right field for a 5-0 score. It was the first time Wofford had back-to-back home runs since March 29, 2017 against Presbyterian. Andrew Orzel added a double and then with two outs a double by Matty Brown made it 6-0.
 
In the fourth inning, both teams left one runner on base. Merrimack was retired in order in the top of the fifth. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Andrew Orzel had an infield single and a single by Shane Lussier gave Wofford runners on the corners. On a fielder's choice bunt by Matty Brown, Orzel was safe at home for a 7-0 lead. Mike Brown added an RBI single as Wofford pushed the advantage to 8-0. Hudson Byorick added a single, but the Terriers left the bases loaded to end the fifth inning.
 
The Warriors had their first hit of the game to lead off the sixth inning. After the Terriers turned a double play, Merrimack added a double. A ground out ended the top half. John Dempsey was left on base in the bottom of the sixth after a single.
 
After the Warriors left one runner on base in the top of the seventh, Wofford had runners on the corners when an attempted double steal had the lead runner out at home. Merrimack had one out in the top of the eighth when a walk and a single had runners on the corners. The Terriers then turned a double play to end the top half of the frame. Wofford left two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth after a pair of walks. Merrimack led off the ninth with a walk but a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball ended the game.
 
Wofford starter Hayes Heinecke (2-1) threw seven shutout innings with two hits allowed. He struck out a career-high 12 batters and did not issue a walk. Jake Dippold went the final two innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
 
Cedric Gillette (1-2) started for Merrimack and went 2.2 innings with six runs allowed on nine hits, along with three strikeouts. Justin Butera threw 4.1 innings with two runs allowed on five hits and one strikeout. Jack Collins walked two batters in the eighth inning.
 
Wofford and Merrimack will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.