SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team gave a late push Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome as Villanova salvaged the series with a 10-5 win. The Terriers drop to 17-8 on the year at the Wildcats improve to 12-10.
 
Four pitchers took the mound for each team with Wofford's starter, Dylan Rhadans (0-1), suffering the loss. He surrendered four runs in one-third of an inning. Kenny Michaels pitched 4.0 innings of relief, allowing four runs (three earned) with four strikeouts. Michael Sills struck out six over 3.2 innings of work with two runs (one earned) on his ledger. John Gray hurled a scoreless and hitless frame.
 
Villanova starter Luke McCullough (3-0) picked up the win after tossing 5.0 innings with one run allowed.
 
The Terriers were outhit 13-8 in the contest with David Wiley's three knocks leading the way, and he added a walk and hit-by-pitch to reach base five times. One hit was a double with Niko Brini and Ryan Wynn each adding a two-bagger as well. Wiley had two RBI with Tanner Hardin also driving home a run. Wofford swiped four bases in the game with Hardin, James Layman, Ben Timblin, and Andrew Mannelly all claiming one.
 
Villanova opened the game with four runs in the top of the first, and the Wildcats added two more in the second for a 6-0 lead.
 
Wofford got on the board in the third with an infield single by David Wiley, which pushed Niko Brini home. The margin was 6-1.
 
With two runs each in the fifth and sixth frames, the Wildcats stretched their lead to 10-1.
 
The Terriers did not relent, though, getting one back in the bottom of the sixth. With a runner on, Tanner Hardin singled to short, and the throw sailed away to allow the runner to come home for a 10-2 score.
 
Wofford continued to chip away with a run in the seventh. Wiley struck once more with a double to left that plated Ryan Wynn for a 10-3 deficit.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Wofford provided one last comeback push. Cade Collins pinch hit and worked a walk to lead off the inning. Two quick outs followed, but the Terriers had a two-out rally up their sleeves. Tyler Hare also walked and was lifted for pinch-runner Ethan Belk. Wiley then smoked a single to third, and another errant throw by a Wildcat infielder proved costly as both runners came around to score. However, a pop-up ended the rally and notched a 10-5 win for Villanova.
 
Despite the Sunday loss, the Terriers claimed the series in what was the last home non-conference weekend set for Wofford. Up next is a midweek match-up at Troy on Tuesday, March 25. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. ET before the Terriers open up SoCon play at The Citadel over the weekend.