SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team gave a late comeback push against Samford Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field, but the Bulldogs held firm for a 6-2 win. Wofford falls to 21-12 (2-4 SoCon) while Samford improves to 17-15 (4-2 SoCon).
Kenny Michaels (3-1) got the starting nod for the Terriers, his first of the season and just the second of his career. Michaels surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits with three strikeouts while taking the loss.
Alec Bouchard tossed 4.0 innings out the bullpen with two runs allowed on three hits with five punchouts.
Carter Rasmussen hurled the last 1.2 innings with no runs given up and just a hit allowed. He struck out one.
Samford starter Mason Blasche (4-0) earned the win after pitching 6.0 innings with two runs allowed on five hits. Josh Leerssen (1) picked up a save after finishing off the final 3.0 frames with no runs allowed.
Hits were nearly even at 8-7 in favor of Samford, and Wofford's knocks were dispersed evenly with all seven coming from a different player.
David Wiley added an RBI with his hit.
Andrew Mannelly clubbed the only extra-base hit for Wofford, a double.
James Layman swiped the lone Terrier steal.
Ryan Wynn reached base twice with a walk to go along with his hit.
Samford struck first in the top of the first with the opening batters hitting back-to-back doubles for a quick 1-0 edge.
The contest had the makings of a pitchers' duel early as
Kenny Michaels settled in for Wofford, and the game remained 1-0 entering the fourth. The Bulldogs added three runs in that frame, the first coming home via a wild pitch. A two-run double followed for a 4-0 advantage.
Samford tacked on one more in the top of the fifth with an RBI single.
The Terriers picked up in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs to pull closer.
Tyler Hare and
Ryan Wynn hit back-to-back singles to open the inning, and a wild pitch moved them to second and third.
David Wiley's single to left plated Hare, and a misplay by the left fielder allowed the ball to scoot by him, bringing home Wynn. The Terriers trailed 5-2.
A solo home run in the top of the eighth provided Samford an insurance run for a 6-2 lead.
Wofford gave one last push in the bottom of the eighth when Wynn led the frame off with a walk.
Ethan Belk pinch ran for him, and after a flyout,
James Layman singled to bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, a strikeout and flyout followed to conclude the contest as a 6-2 Samford win.
The Terriers remain at home to host Winthrop in a midweek tilt on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. at Russell C. King Field.
