SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team used a six-run third inning to set an early tone with a lead it would not relent Tuesday night in a damp 13-5 win over Queens (N.C.) at Russell C. King Field. The start of the contest was delayed an hour due to rain in the area. The Terriers improve to 25-17 as the Royals fall to 5-33.
 
Four Terriers toed the rubber with Dylan Rhadans making the start, tossing 3.2 innings with just one run allowed on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Grant Comstock (1-1) earned the win as the first reliever out of the bullpen, allowing two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings of work. He struck out a pair as he recorded his first-career victory. Michael Sills pitched 2.0 frames with a pair of runs allowed, and Austin Laughlin polished off the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning that featured two punchouts.
 
"Honestly I was just trying to mix my pitches, throw everything for strikes, and make them hit it," said Rhadans. "I had one walk – didn't really want to walk the guy, but other than that was just kind of making them hit it."
 
Queens starter Jack Renaud (0-7) suffered the loss after allowing the game's opening run in just 2.0 innings of work. He gave up only one hit with one walk.
 
Eight Terriers collected a hit in the game with three notching multiple. Tyler Hare paced the team with a trio of base knocks, including a double and a triple as he finished a homer shy of the cycle. Hare drove in three RBI. James Layman and Tanner Hardin each tallied two hits with Layman adding two RBI as one of his knocks was a double. Lucas Manning added a double with Niko Brini also posting a triple. Tyler Bak, Raul Feliz, and Ryan Wynn all added an RBI. On the bases, Hardin swiped a pair of bags with Ethan Belk notching a duo of steals in his pinch-running appearance.
 
"We just did our jobs, stayed to our roles," said Hardin. "We got on base, got a lot of three-less-than-two opportunities, and I feel like we capitalized really well when we got our opportunities."
 
Though hits were not far apart with Queens recording eight to Wofford's 12, the Terriers took advantage of Royal miscues. Queens was guilty of four errors in the field compared to just one Wofford miscue, and the Terriers tallied seven free bases with five walks and two hit batsmen. Queens collected just two free passes.
 
"When we get up to the dish, it's not about see a pitch and hit it; it's about making a tough at-bat, being a superstar in your role, and just seeing a lot of pitches," said Hare. "Get to the bullpen, get to the next guy, and if we can get everybody on base and get to the next pitcher, we can win a lot of ballgames."
 
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Terriers struck first with a run in the bottom of the second. Andrew Mannelly worked a two-out walk and advanced to third after a passed ball and wild pitch. Tyler Hare then doubled him home by roping one down the right field line for the 1-0 edge.
 
The game unraveled for Queens in the third inning with a six-spot by the Terriers. A wild pitch with the bases loaded pushed home a run, and another scored on a double play. Tyler Bak's single up the middle scored one more, and Hare struck again with an RBI single. The Royal catcher threw the ball away on a pick-off attempt to third, allowing Mannelly and Hare to score on the play to cap a six-run frame for a 7-0 lead.
 
An RBI groundout in the top of the fourth got Queens on the board, cutting the margin to 7-1.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Wofford got the run back plus one more when James Layman doubled home a pair for a 9-1 margin.
 
A two-run home run in the top of the fifth provided some life for the Royals with a 9-3 score, but the Terriers responded with three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Hare's RBI triple to right center got the scoring started, and Raul Felix provided an RBI single to left. A double steal by Tanner Hardin and Ethan Belk saw the catcher sail another throw, allowing Belk to scurry home for a 12-1 advantage.
 
Queens added solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pull within 12-5, but an RBI groundout by Ryan Wynn in the bottom of the eighth made the margin 13-5. That is where it stood as Austin Laughlin came on in relief and set the side down in order to close out the contest.
 
The Terriers hit the road in a break from conference play this weekend. Wofford travels to face High Point in a three-game set that begins with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, April 26. The series wraps up with a Sunday twin bill that begins at noon.