SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Down three runs entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Wofford baseball team needed a rally to survive, and with their backs against the wall, the Terriers delivered just that. A four-run outburst in the final frame secured a comeback and walk-off triumph, 12-11, over the UNCG Spartans at Russell C. King Field Sunday afternoon to secure a series sweep. With the result, the Terriers improve to 24-9 overall and 3-0 in SoCon play, while the Spartans drop to 14-17, 0-3 in league action.
 
The sweep is Wofford's third of the season, and the Terriers remain a perfect 7-0 in series on the campaign.
 
With 23 combined runs between the squads, both teams were forced into their bullpens. Wofford reliever Devon Sharts (2-0) earned the victory after tossing the final inning as the eighth different Terrier to toe the rubber in the contest. Sharts allowed just a walk, but he did not give up any runs. Dom Marcoccio started for Wofford, surrendering five runs in 1.2 innings of work with a strikeout. Clay Schwaner, Holden Wilder and O'Kelly McWilliams IV also tossed scoreless appearances.
 
UNCG reliever Kross Robinson (1-1) took the loss after pitching the closing 2.1 innings and allowing four runs, all in Wofford's ninth-inning walk-off rally.
 
The Spartans out-hit the Terriers 16-10 and made fewer mistakes in the field with just one error as opposed to Wofford's three. But the Terriers once again made more of their opportunities and drew more walks, eight to UNCG's five.
 
Three Terriers knocked two-hit games: Nolen Hester, John Dempsey and Ryan Galanie. Dempsey totaled two RBI and clubbed his seventh homer of the season to tie Galanie for the team lead. The senior also extended his on-base streak to 20 games. Hester totaled an RBI as well. Brice Martinez led the way with three runs driven in on just a hit and a walk. Trey Yunger joined the multi-RBI club with two himself, reaching base three times with a hit and two free passes. Galanie also added two walks.
 
UNCG did not waste any time starting the scoring, as the second pitch of the ballgame was driven over the left center wall for a solo home run for a 1-0 Spartan advantage.
 
Likewise, Wofford did not waste time responding. In the bottom of the first, John Dempsey doubled down the left field line to plate the tying run. Lawson Hill then laid down a bunt single that brought home the go-ahead run. Wofford was up 2-1 after an inning of play.
 
The second inning saw UNCG roar back into the lead, setting a tone for what became a see-saw of a game. An RBI single scored the tying run before two RBI doubles gave the Spartans another lead. Another RBI single for good measure made the score 4-2.
 
The Terriers plated five in the bottom of the third for their own big inning. Brennen Dorighi began the scoring with a sacrifice fly, and Trey Yunger followed with an RBI single up the middle. Brice Martinez then singled up the middle himself, scoring two runs to put the Terriers back in front. Nolen Hester then ripped a single down the right field line to score one more, making the sore 7-5 in favor of Wofford.
 
An RBI single to left center by the Spartans in the top of the fourth pulled UNCG to within a run, and then two more runs in the next frame put UNCG back in front once more. In the fifth inning, a single to left field brought in the tying run. Then, with runners on first and third, Holden Wilder caught the first base runner leaning, picking him off on a steal attempt, but the play allowed the runner on third to race home. The score was 8-7 Spartans after five.
 
Dempsey tied the game with a big fly to right to lead-off the sixth inning, evening it up at eight apiece.
 
The back-and-forth tilt continued in the top of the seventh when UNCG jumped back in front. A single put the Spartans back in the lead before two RBI doubles padded it. The score was 11-8, and that's where it stood until the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Terriers entered the final frame down three and needing some life, but a lead-off strikeout from the Spartan pitcher seemed to set a tone, as he had been dealing with three punchouts and no baserunners allowed. However, the wheels then began to roll off, as Ryan Galanie singled back up the middle to give Wofford some life. Hill drew a four-pitch walk, bringing on Connor Larson to pinch run. Dorighi stepped up to bat, where he wore an errant pitch to load the bases in the painful fashion. Shane Lussier came on to run for him, and Trey Yunger came up to bat with the bases juiced. The control was still lacking, and he also worked a walk, this time bringing in a run. With the bases still loaded, Marshall Toole was hit with a pitch to score another run and bring the Terriers to the precipice. 
 
Now down one, Martinez stepped up looking to send Wofford home happy. On the second pitch of the at-bat, he hit a grounder to shortstop that appeared to have the makings of a game-ending double play. After getting the out at second, the Spartans were not able to get Martinez at first, allowing him to reach on an RBI fielder's choice as Lussier scored from third. Yunger did not break stride from second as he continued running around third, catching the Spartan defense off guard. The throw to the plate was not able to get Yunger, as he slid in safely for the walk-off score, securing the 12-11 win and series sweep for Wofford.
 
The Terriers will be back in action on Thursday, April 14 as they play host to East Tennessee State at 6:00 p.m. at Russell C. King Field. It will be game one of a three-game set that will run from Thursday to Saturday.