SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Down 5-4 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Wofford baseball team put together a late rally that concluded with Ryan Wynn hitting a go-ahead single, which proved to be the game winner as Wofford claimed a 6-5 triumph over Mercer at Russell C. King Field. It was a damp Saturday afternoon that featured a 43-minute rain delay in the fourth inning. The Terriers improve to 27-21 (5-9 SoCon) as the Bears drop to 30-19 (9-8 SoCon).
 
Four pitchers saw action for Wofford with Austin Laughlin starting, going 1.2 innings with four runs allowed. Cullen Condon was first out of the bullpen, tossing 2.1 innings and enduring a rain delay in the midst of his outing. He allowed just a single run with a strikeout. Dylan Rhadans hurled 2.2 scoreless frames with just three hits allowed, no walks, and a strikeout. Carter Rasmussen (4-2) picked up the win as the final Terrier to pitch, finishing off the last 2.1 innings. He gave up just one hit with no runs and three punchouts.
 
Four Bears toed the rubber with the last one, Braydon Kersey (2-4), taking the loss. He pitched 2.0 innings with two runs (one earned) allowed on four hits.
 
Hits were even for the clubs at 11 apiece. Four Terriers tallied two – Niko Brini, Ryan Wynn, Tyler Bak, and Tanner Hardin. Wynn added two RBI as Brini reached base four total times by collecting a pair of walks. Brini posted a triple with Bak hitting a double for Wofford's two extra-base knocks. Ben Timblin posted two RBI with James Layman adding one. Layman worked a pair of walks with Raul Feliz adding two as well. The Terriers were patient at the dish with seven total free passes. On the bases, Wynn, Layman, and Timblin each swiped a bag.
 
Wofford wasted no time claiming a lead with a three-run bottom of the first. Niko Brini clubbed a lead-off triple, and Ryan Wynn followed with a single for the quick score. After a Davd Wiley walk, James Layman singled in Wynn before Ben Timblin's RBI groundout made the initial margin 3-0.
 
Mercer notched a quick response with four runs in the top of the second. A three-run homer tied the game, and an RBI single pushed the Bears ahead 4-3. A clutch relay from the outfield limited the damage as Brini's strike from left was in time to the plate to cut down a potential run.
 
A Bear homer in the top of the third stretched their lead to 5-3, but Wofford responded in the bottom of the frame. Layman worked a lead-off walk and swiped second. A flyout advanced him to third, and he came out on Timblin's single to center, bringing the Terriers within a run at 5-4.
 
In the top of the fourth, Mercer worked a one-out walk and had a full count at the plate before a rain cell came through. Play was halted for 43 minutes as the rain passed by, and Cullen Condon wasted no time getting out of the inning upon his return to the bump. Play resumed with Condon catching the runner off guard with a well-timed pick-off move. His first pitch after the resumption of play caught the batter looking for strike three to end the frame.
 
This was the beginning of four consecutive scoreless innings. Neither offense could crack through until the eighth, when Wofford utilized late heroics to flip the script. In the bottom of the frame, Hardin's infield single set up Brini, who put down a bunt. He beat out the throw at first, and with no one covering third Hardin broke for the bag. The first baseman's hurried throw over bounced away, enabling Hardin to score the tying run and Brini to reach third. Quickly thereafter, Wynn roped a single to shallow center to put Wofford ahead 6-5.
 
Carter Rasmussen, who entered the game in the seventh, returned to the mound looking to close things out. Now pitching with a lead, the right-hander put the side down in order, including a looking strikeout to the final batter, to end the game and seal Wofford's gritty comeback 6-5 win.
 
The Terriers have claimed the series with wins in the first two contests. Wofford and Mercer match up once more tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. as the Terriers seek a sweep at Russell C. King Field.