GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team fell behind early after a big inning by USC Upstate at Fluor Field Wednesday night, and despite a late push the Terriers were unable to complete the comeback, losing 8-5 to the Spartans. Wofford drops to 15-7 on the year as Upstate improves to 9-11.
 
Five Terriers pitched in the contest with Dylan Rhadans getting the starting nod. He hurled 2.0 innings with no runs allowed on only one hit and one walk. He struck out three. Grant Comstock (0-1) suffered the loss as the first arm out of the bullpen, tossing just one-third of an inning with four runs (three earned).
 
Upstate starter Alex Sanderson (1-0) earned the win with 5.0 innings pitched. He gave up two runs (both unearned) on one hit. The third of three relievers, Cooper Ellingworth (1), tallied a save by pitching the final 1.2 innings with one run allowed.
 
Wofford was outhit 12-5 in the game with the five base knocks dispersed evenly. Tanner Hardin paced the team with three RBI, a new career high. Ryan Wynn had the other Terrier RBI. The Terriers worked five walks with Tyler Hare and James Layman each notching two. Hare added on a hit to reach base safely three times.
 
Both Hare and Wynn recorded doubles for their only hits. Ethen Belk and Hardin each swiped a base.
 
Wofford got on the board in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Tyler Hare doubled and reached third on an error by the right fielder. A batter later, Tanner Hardin's well-placed sacrifice bunt brought Hare home. James Layman was later hit by a pitch and reached second on an errant pick-off throw. Another Upstate error would allow Layman to scurry home and make the initial lead 2-0.
 
Upstate got on the board with a six-run inning to flip the script in the bottom of the third, taking a 6-2 advantage.
 
The Terriers tallied a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to pull closer. After two quick outs, Wofford began to put together a two-out rally. A single was followed by a pair of walks to load the bases, and Hardin delivered a single to right that pushed across two runners. Wofford pulled within 6-4.
 
The Spartans tallied a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. A solo homer preceded an RBI single to push Upstate's lead to 8-4.
 
Down to their last chance, the Terriers refused to roll over. Layman's walk led the frame off, and Logan Tribble followed with a pinch-hit single. After a strikeout, Ryan Wynn smoked a double just inside the left field line to plate a run. However, the comeback push fell short as the next two batters were retired. Upstate held on to win 8-5.
 
Wofford returns home to host Villanova this weekend in a three-game set. The series begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21, at Russell C. King Field.