SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team scored five runs in the fourth inning on the way to a 5-2 win over UNC Greensboro on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Spartans scored twice in the first inning but were held scoreless over the remaining eight frames. Wofford had six hits in the game, with three of them coming in the fourth inning as they plated five runs that held up to secure the series win.
Wofford is 23-9 overall and 2-0 in the Southern Conference, while UNC Greensboro is 14-17 on the season and 0-2 in the league.
Lawson Hill led the Terrier offense with two hits and five different players had RBIs in the game. The Spartans had ten hits, with Greg Hardison leading the team with two hits and a pair of RBIs.
The Spartans opened the game with a single and back-to-back doubles to take a 2-0 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the first,
Jack Renwick singled. In the second frame, the Spartans stranded one runner and Wofford opened with a double by
Lawson Hill. A fly ball moved Hill to third base, but he was out at home on a fly ball to right field. The Spartans had two outs in the top of the third when they had a double and a single. The lead runner was picked off at third base to end the top half.
After Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the third inning, UNCG stranded one in the top of the fourth inning.
John Dempsey was hit by a pitch to lead off the order in the bottom of the fourth.
Jack Renwick reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. With two outs, a single by
Lawson Hill drove in Renwick and a double to the corner in left field by
Brennen Dorighi brought in Hill to tie the game at 2-2. A single by
Trey Yunger scored Dorighi to give the Terriers a 3-2 lead. Bases loaded walks drawn by
Nolen Hester and
John Dempsey each plated runs to make it 5-2 before a foul out ended the inning with three runners stranded.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Spartans left two on base after a single and walk. Wofford went in order to end the frame. In the sixth inning, UNCG stranded one runner and Wofford had a hit by Carter Toole. With two outs in the top of the seventh, The Spartans had a single and a walk but both were stranded. After the stretch,
John Dempsey reached second on a fielding error with one out but was unable to advance.
Dalton Rhadans took the mound in the top of the eighth inning and retired the side in order. Wofford left two on base in the bottom half after
Lawson Hill reached on an error and
Marshall Toole walked. In the top of the ninth with a cold rain falling, the Spartans led off with back-to-back singles. A strikeout and fly ball were followed by a ground out to end the game.
Wofford starter
Josh Vitus went four innings with two runs allowed on five hits and three strikeouts.
Coulson Buchanan (3-0) worked three innings and did not allow a run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Dalton Rhadans earned his seventh save of the season by not allowing a run on two hits in the final two innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Jared Mathewson (2-3) started for the Spartans and allowed five runs in five hits with one strikeout in 3.2 innings. Alex Hoppe went the final 4.1 innings with one hit allowed and eighth strikeouts.
Wofford and UNCG will conclude the weekend series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
