SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the opening game of a weekend series, the Wofford College baseball team defeated La Salle on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. In the fourth inning the Explorers took a lead, but the Terriers answered with a three-run homer by
Alec Cargin for a 3-1 lead. Wofford added a run in the eighth inning for the final margin.
Wofford is now 11-3 on the season, while La Salle is 4-7 overall. Both teams had six hits in the game. The Terriers were led by
Colin Davis with two hits, while
Alec Cargin had three RBIs. Alfonse Sadallah and Bubba Weigel had two hits each for the Explorers.
The Explorers opened the game with a single, but the runner was picked off second base. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the first inning and La Salle went in order in the top of the second inning.
Colin Davis doubled with two outs in the bottom of the second but a fly ball ended the frame. The Explorers were retired in order in the top of the third inning.
Andrew Orzel led off the bottom of the third with a single and
Matty Brown followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, but back-to-back strikeouts stranded the runners in scoring position. La Salle led off the fourth with a walk and with two outs an error had runners on the corners. A single drove in a run for a 1-0 lead before a strikeout ended the top half.
Lawson Hill reached on an error to begin the bottom of the fourth and a bunt single by
Colin Davis, along with a throwing error, put runners in scoring position.
Alec Cargin cleared the fence in right field with his third home run of the season for a 3-1 lead for Wofford.
La Salle had runner on the corners with two outs in the top of the fifth after a walk and single, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance. Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the fifth after
Hudson Byorick walked. The Explorers were retired in order in the top of the sixth inning.
John Dempsey led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the right line, but was unable to advance. Both teams were retired in order in the seventh inning.
In the top of the eighth, the Explorers led off with a double and with one out had an infield single to put runners on the corners. A strikeout and ground out ended the top half. With one out in the bottom of the eight,
Lawson Hill singled.
John Dempsey reached on a fielder's choice and
Colin Davis reached on an error that allowed a run to cross the plate for a 4-1 lead. The Explorers led off the top of the ninth with a single. A pair of ground outs and a strikeout ended the game with the runner stranded at third base.
Wofford starter
Josh Vitus (1-1) went four innings with one run allowed on two hits, along with a career-high five strikeouts.
Dalton Rhadans worked four innings and did not allow a run on three hits and a career-high five strikeouts.
Rasesh Pandya picked up his second save of the season with one hit allowed and a strikeout in the ninth inning.
Colin Scanlon (0-2) started for La Salle and threw six innings with three runs allowed on five hits while striking out five batters. James Kelly went the final two innings with one unearned run allowed on one hit and a pair of strikeouts.
Wofford will continue the three-game weekend series against LaSalle on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Russell C. King Field.
