Spartanburg, S.C. - The Wofford softball team (30-18, 11-4 SoCon) took the first two games of a three game weekend series against ETSU (15-32, 4-12 SoCon) on Saturday, April 26. The first game saw Margaret Axelson pitch a complete game shutout as Wofford coasted to a 4-0 win. Game two saw some late heroics by Rivers Sampson as Wofford won in walk-off fashion 3-1.
Game 1
Margaret Axelson got the start in game one against the Buccaneers and proceeded to pitch a complete game shutout en route to her 14th win of the season. Axelson gave up four hits with four strikeouts on one walk allowed. She completed the shutout in just 74 pitches.
The Terrier offense struck early as a Brianna Stanley RBI single in the first inning brought home Kate Platte to put Wofford up 1-0. Wofford quickly added to their lead in the next inning as Rivers Sampson drove in another run which was followed by a Hope Ingle RBI single to put the Terriers up 3-0 after two innings.
The three-run cushion was more than enough for Axelson as she carved through the ETSU line-up only allowing two hits after the second inning on her way to her 16th complete game of the season. The Terriers added an insurance run in the sixth inning as a Kaytlin Greenwood bunt single brought home Desirae Devine to bring it to the final score of 4-0.
Game 2
Sophomore Abby Greenwood was tapped for game two against ETSU and went the complete game with one run allowed with eight strikeouts and nine hits given up.
Both teams were locked into a defensive struggle as neither team could score any runs halfway through the fifth inning. Wofford broke the stalemate in the bottom of the fifth as Kate Platte drove in Kaytlin Greenwood to put Wofford up 1-0. The Buccaneers responded in the top of the seventh when a double with two outs drove in one run to tie up the ballgame and bring the game into extra innings. It was Wofford's 11th extra inning game this season.
The top of the eighth inning saw ETSU remain scoreless. In the bottom half of the eighth, Kaytlin Greenwood beat out a throw on a bunt single and she was bunted over to second base by Kate Platte. Then on a 1-1 count, Rivers Sampson smacked a two-run homerun to walk-off the game for the Terriers. It was Wofford's first ever walk-off home run and Sampson's first career home run to give Wofford the 3-1 win.
Wofford looks to complete the sweep on Sunday, April 27, as they finish up the series against ETSU. This game will also be senior day as the Terriers' three seniors will be honored prior to the first pitch, which is slated for 1:00 p.m.
