AUBURN, Ala. – The Wofford College baseball team picked up a 4-3 win over #14 Auburn on Wednesday night at Plainsman Park. The Terriers scored first and had a 4-0 lead after three innings. Auburn got on the board with three runs in the eighth inning. In the ninth inning, Wofford left two on base and Auburn stranded one as the Terriers secured the win.
Wofford is now 14-3 on the season, while #14 Auburn is 13-5 overall. It was the first win for the Terriers over a ranked opponent since a 2012 win over South Carolina. Wofford has a win over a Power 5 opponent in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The game also featured brothers Conor (Auburn) and Colin (Wofford) Davis playing against each other. The Terriers had eight hits in the game, with two by
Hudson Byorick. Auburn was led by Kason Howell with two hits and an RBI.
With two outs in the top of the first inning,
Hudson Byorick singled and
Lawson Hill followed with a walk. A single up the middle by
John Dempsey scored Byorick for a 1-0 lead. After the Tigers were retired in order in the bottom of the first,
Alec Cargin led off the second inning with a double but was picked off.
Andrew Orzel walked and a single by
Matty Brown gave the Terriers runner on the corners. A sacrifice bunt by
Mike Brown pushed across Orzel for a 2-0 advantage.
The Tigers had two hits in the bottom of the second and stranded both runners.
Hudson Byorick walked to led off the third and
Lawson Hill singled. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position and a wild pitch made it 3-0.
Colin Davis had a sacrifice fly to give Wofford a 4-0 lead. Auburn had runners on the corners in the bottom of the third when a fly ball ended the inning.
In the top of the fourth with one out,
Matty Brown walked and
Mike Brown singled. A walk to
Hudson Byorick loaded the bases with two outs before a ground out ended the scoring chance. The Tigers had two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth with two outs when
Mike Brown made a diving catch in right field to end the inning. With two outs in the top of the fifth,
Alec Cargin and
Andrew Orzel walked but a ground out ended the half.
Auburn had two runners on base when Conor Davis hit a ball to centerfield that
Colin Davis reached over the fence and brought back for the out. With two outs in the top of the sixth,
Hudson Byorick singled and a fielder's choice ended the Wofford half. The Tigers were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh with two outs,
Alec Cargin and
Andrew Orzel walked before a ground out sent the game to the stretch.
A triple off the wall in left field by Auburn with two outs in the bottom of the seventh was followed by a fly ball to end the inning. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the eighth. Conor Davis led off the bottom of the eighth with a double off the wall in left field and that was followed by a hit by pitch. Another double off the wall drove in a run for a 4-1 score. A walk loaded the bases and with one out a single made it 4-2. A sacrifice fly cut the lead to 4-3 before a fly ball ended the inning with two runners stranded.
Wofford had one out in the top of the ninth when
Shane Lussier was hit by a pitch and he stole second base.
Colin Davis was intentionally walked and a pair of wild pitches moved the runners into scoring position but a strikeout ended the top half. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers had a single and then a strikeout ended the game.
Wofford starter
Josh Vitus threw 3.1 scoreless innings with four hits allowed and two strikeouts.
Dalton Rhadans (4-0) went 3.2 innings with two runs allowed on two hits, along with two strikeouts.
Rasesh Pandya earned his third save of the year by going the final 2.0 innings with one run allowed on three hits and a pair of strikeouts.
Trace Bright (1-1) started for Auburn and in two innings gave up four runs on five hits. Hayden Mullins threw 2.2 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Seb Thomas worked two innings with two hits allowed. Ryan Watson threw the final 2.1 innings without allowing a hit and striking out two batters.
Wofford will host Massachusetts on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. to begin a three-game weekend series.
