SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Down 3-0 early to the VMI Keydets, the Wofford baseball team roared back with 18 hits en route to a 12-6 win Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The win secures the series for the Terriers, who improve to 17-6 (2-1 SoCon). VMI drops to 14-11 (1-2 SoCon).
 
The start of the game was delayed by about an hour due to lightning in the area. But the weather cleared, and once it did Wofford was able to roll to a win to claim the opening series of Southern Conference play. This marks the fourth-straight season that the Terriers have won their opening series of league action.
 
Wofford starter Matthew Marchal (3-1) earned the win after tossing 5.0 innings with five runs allowed on seven hits and two strikeouts. Zac Cowan (1) pitched the final 4.0 innings, securing a save after allowing just one run on five hits. The freshman punched out six hitters. The duo did not issue a single walk in the contest.
 
VMI starter James Newsome (0-2) was hooked with the loss after surrendering four runs on five hits and two walks.
 
The Terrier offense executed in tandem with the pitching staff, as the hurlers allowed no walks and the hitters struck out only twice in the game.
 
Four Terriers tallied three-hit outings, combing for 12 of Wofford's 18 hits. Trey Yunger and Dixon Black led the way with a pair of runs batted in each. Marshall Toole drove home a run, and he worked a walk to reach base four times total. Cameron Gill was the final member of the three-hit club. David Wiley collected two base knocks to also record a multi-hit day.
 
The Keydets opened the contest on a roll, scoring three runs in the first two innings for a quick 3-0 advantage.
 
But in the bottom of the second, Wofford broke into the scoring column with a David Wiley RBI single, cutting the margin to 3-1.
 
In the third, the Terriers hit their stride for four runs to claim the lead. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Trey Yunger and Dixon Black tied the game, and a wild pitch brought Black home for the lead. A Gunnar Johnson single scored one more to make the score 5-3 in favor of Wofford.
 
Brice Martinez delivered a run with a single in the fourth to make the score 6-3.
 
But VMI showed no quit, plating a pair in the top of the fifth to pull within one, 6-5.
 
Yet the Terriers felt no pressure, exploding for five runs in the bottom of the frame to immediately recreate some breathing room. The first run crossed home on a groundout, and Ryan Galanie pushed home another with a single, as did Yunger. Black singled to right to follow suit with his own RBI, and an error on the throw by the right fielder allowed one more to scurry home. The score was 11-5.
 
VMI claimed a run with a single in the sixth, but Toole's RBI single in the eighth nixed it.
 
Zac Cowan would retire the side in order in the ninth to lock down the 12-6 Terrier triumph and series victory.
 
Wofford is back in action on Wednesday, March 29 for a midweek tilt at Presbyterian. First pitch in Clinton, S.C. is set for 6:00 p.m.