JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Despite rain delaying the start of the doubleheader, the Wofford baseball team came out and claimed game one over ETSU at Thomas Stadium, 8-5, Saturday evening. But the Buccaneers bounced back to win the second game, 2-1, in a shortened seven-inning affair. With the split, the Terriers move to 23-8 (4-2 SoCon), and the Bucs are now 14-15 (2-4 SoCon).
 
GAME ONE
Lucas Mahlstedt (4-0) secured the win for the Terriers after pitching the final 5.1 innings. He allowed only one run on six hits with no walks. The righty notched three punchouts. Charlie Weber started, tossing 3.2 innings with four runs allowed and two strikeouts before handing the ball off the Mahlstedt.
 
ETSU starter Austin Emener (1-3) suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs (four earned) on five hits and six walks.
 
Terrier pitching issued only a single walk in the contest, and the Wofford hitters worked a total of eight, led by Trey Yunger with two. Seven of Wofford's nine starting hitters recorded a walk.
 
Three Terriers tallied two hits in the ballgame, led by Brice Martinez with a pair of runs driven in. David Wiley added an RBI with his two knocks, and Gunnar Johnson recorded two RBI with his one hit.
 
After a scoreless first frame, Gunnar Johnson opened things up in the top of the second. His two-run single got Wofford on the board, and later in the frame Ryan Galanie added his own RBI single to make the early Terrier lead 3-0.
 
ETSU hit back in the bottom of the frame, scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single. Pulling within a run, the score was 3-2.
 
A Buc homer in the third tied the contest at 3-3.
 
But in the fourth, Wofford bounced back with four runs. With the bases loaded, Trey Yunger reached on a fielder's choice, and ETSU was unable to get anyone out as a run scored. A Dixon Black sacrifice fly scored one more before Brice Martinez laced a single to center that scored two more. The Terriers led 7-3.
 
An RBI single got one back for the Bucs in the bottom of the frame, pulling the margin to 7-4.
 
After plenty of scoring early, the offenses cooled down as the pitching settled in. But ETSU threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out. But Lucas Mahlstedt clamped down to notch a strikeout and groundout, surviving the jam unscathed and preserving the 7-4 Terrier lead.
 
David Wiley provided Wofford with an insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI, extending the lead to 8-4.
 
ETSU would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was all Mahlstedt would allow the Bucs to get. He locked down the 8-4 terrier triumph in game one.
 
GAME TWO
Both starting pitchers went the distance in the nightcap, which was shortened to seven innings due to the late start. Coulson Buchanan (3-2) suffered a tough loss after his 6.1 innings of work. He allowed two runs on eight hits and a pair of walks, but he struck out nine batters.
 
Nathaniel Tate (4-2) took the win for ETSU after his 7.0 innings, giving up a run on three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts.
 
The Terriers only recorded three hits in the contest, coming off the bats of Marshall Toole, Dixon Black and Jack Renwick. Toole reached base twice by also working a walk. Shane Lussier scored the lone Wofford run after pinch running and stealing home.
 
Both starting pitchers were dealing out of the gates, with each of the first four frames going scoreless.
 
Wofford finally broke through the pitchers' duel in the top of the fifth. Andrew Mannelly walked, and he gave way for Shane Lussier to pinch run. Marshall Toole singled to push Lussier to third. Toole stole second, and then a double steal saw Lussier swipe the plate and put the Terriers on the board, 1-0.
 
Despite being held off the board through the first six innings, the Bucs found their stride in the seventh. An RBI single to right tied the contest, and another one by the next batter provided the walk-off 2-1 win in a shortened game two.
 
UP NEXT
Wofford returns home to Russell C. King Field on Tuesday, April 11 to take on Presbyterian. The contest is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.