JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Wofford baseball team claimed an early lead Friday evening at Thomas Stadium over the ETSU Buccaneers and rode a strong start from Alec Bouchard and strong finish by Carter Rasmussen to a 7-5 triumph. The Terriers move to 29-22 (6-10 SoCon) as the Bucs drop to 35-13 (11-5 SoCon).
 
Three pitchers toed the rubber for Wofford as Alec Bouchard (3-1) earned the victory as the starter. He hurled a career-long 6.0 innings with four runs allowed on seven hits and four walks with four punchouts. Michaels Sills was first out of the bullpen to bridge the gap to Carter Rasmussen (3), who notched the save with the final 2.1 innings to his name. He did not give up a run with only one hit allowed. He walked one, hit two, and struck out four. Rasmussen now leads the Wofford pitching staff in saves.
 
ETSU starter Carter Fink (6-3) suffered the loss after getting tagged for seven runs with just one being earned in his 5.0 innings of action.
 
The Terriers were outhit 9-8 with Tyler Hare and Tyler Bak each recording two knocks. Hare recorded two RBI with his hits as David Wiley, Cade Collins, and Andrew Mannelly each added one run driven in. Hare added a walk to reach base three times. Niko Brini, Wiley, and Hare each recorded a double. Brini swiped two bases with Lucas Manning recording one.
 
Wofford struck first in the top of the first by taking advantage of ETSU miscues. Niko Brini was hit by the second pitch of the game and promptly swiped second. A flyout moved him to third, and he then scored on a fielding error by the Buccaneer second baseman for the early 1-0 edge.
 
The Bucs responded in the bottom of the second with a three-run home run to pull in front 3-1.
 
The Terriers struck back with a three-run frame in the top of the third to retake the edge. Brini wore a pitch to lead off an inning for the second time and once more stole second. A fielding error plus another hit batter loaded the bases for Tyler Hare, who clubbed a double into the right-field alley to plate a pair. Andrew Mannelly broke the newfound tie with a sacrifice fly for a 4-3 lead.
 
However, the Bucs pulled level with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth, tying the score at 4-4.
 
In the top of the sixth, Wofford bounced back with another three-run inning. Tyler Bak's single set up Lucas Manning for a bunt, but the pitcher's throw to first sailed away, enabling Bak to score and Manning to reach third. Cade Collins then singled Manning home, and he would later score with the aid of two wild pitches, the second of which brought him in. The Terriers pulled in front to a 7-4 score.
 
ETSU added a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to pull a little closer at 7-5.
 
Carter Rasmussen came out of the bullpen to close out the remainder of the game. ETSU would provide some late pushes, but the right-hander from Texas held firm to hold the Bucs at bay. A pair of two-out baserunners were stranded in the eighth, and ETSU put two more on in the ninth with one out. However, Rasmussen again clamped down to record a strikeout and induce a liner to Ryan Wynn that was snared in midair for the final out of the ballgame, securing the 7-5 series-opening victory for the Terriers.
 
The squads meet up for game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. with game three following the next day at 1:00 p.m. Both contests are streaming on ESPN+.