SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team returned to Russell C. King Field to open the 2023 season against Southern Illinois Friday night, but the Salukis scored early and ultimately claimed the opening day win, 9-4. Wofford begins the campaign 0-1 while SIU starts 1-0.
 
Wofford starter Matthew Marchal (0-1) was tabbed with the loss after tossing just an inning and surrendering seven runs, six earned. Four pitchers followed, beginning with 3.0 innings out of freshman Champ Davis. The righty allowed two runs and struck out one, his first-career punchout. Dom Marcoccio followed with a scoreless inning, and Ryder Moye and Mike Eggert finished the contest with 2.0 innings each. Moye tallied three strikeouts, the first for the lefty freshman in his career. Eggert notched one of his own as the pair did not allow a run.
 
Saluki starter Ben Chapman (1-0) earned the win after 5.0 innings of work with three runs allowed and five strikeouts with five walks.
 
Five different Terriers recorded a hit in the contest, led by Ryan Galanie with three. He added two RBI as the only Terrier with multiple of either. The senior reached base a fourth time by way of a walk. Dixon Black recorded his first hit as a Terrier, and the transfer junior added the only other Wofford RBI. Marshall Toole's hit was the lone extra-base knock for Wofford, as the sophomore smacked a double.
 
Though SIU out-hit Wofford 11-7, the Terriers drew more walks with six free passes while allowing just two.
 
The Salukis wasted no time getting on the board, plating three runs in the top of the first. With a pair of homers in the second, SIU tacked on four more to hold an early 7-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, Ryan Galanie stepped up to the dish with the bases loaded. He laced a single back up the middle to score two runners and get Wofford on the board. Later in the frame, Galanie would get caught stealing, but he successfully drew time for Marshall Toole to race home from third in the rundown. Wofford had cut the margin to 7-3.
 
A two-run homer in the fourth added a pair of runs for the Salukis to make the score 9-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Wofford continued its quest to comeback with an RBI single by Dixon Black. The base knock brought Jack Renwick home to make the score 9-4, but the Terriers could not get any more and fell by that margin.
 
Wofford and SIU will square off once more tomorrow afternoon. Game two of the series is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.