SPARTANBURG, S.C. –The Wofford baseball team clinched their first conference series with a 6-1 win over UNC Greensboro on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers (18-9, 2-0) scored first, and an explosive four-run sixth inning helped clinch the series over the Spartans (12-16, 1-4).
Alec Bouchard made the start for the Terriers, pitching for six innings. Bouchard (4-1) gave up three hits while striking out seven batters.
Miller Alston and
John Gray followed in relief. Gray gave up two hits while striking out five batters.
Cade Collins led the way for the Terriers with one run on two hits with two RBI.
Tanner Hardin followed with one run on one hit with one RBI.
The ball game started with two scoreless innings. After Wofford retired the Spartans in a order in the top of the third,
Cade Collins singled with one out to give Wofford their first hit of the game.
Niko Brini continued with a double to put the Terriers in scoring position. A ground out by
Logan Tribble would bring home Collins for a 1-0 lead. After a scoreless fourth, the Spartans answered back with a run of their own on a sacrifice fly to left field for a 1-1 tie in the fifth.
Bouchard and the Terriers' defense retired the Spartans once more in order to start the sixth.
Niko Brini led off for Wofford with a walk. With one out,
Ben Timblin on the first pitch hit an RBI double to push the lead to 2-1. With two outs and a full count,
Tanner Hardin hit an RBI single to drive home two runs for a 4-1 ball game. Two Terriers walked to load the bases. A walk by
Cade Collins allowed the final run of the inning to score and advance to the Terriers' lead to 5-1.
John Gray would hold the Spartans scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Terriers scored one more run in the eighth with an RBI single by
Cade Collins for a 6-1 score. In the top of the ninth, Gray struck out three batters to clinch the series against UNCG.
Quick Hits:
- Â Starting Lineup: Cade Collins (3B), Niko Brini (CF), Logan Tribble (LF), Ben Timblin (RF), Marc Quarrie (DH), Hunter Herndon (1B), Tanner Hardin (2B), JT Smith (C), Brady Gold (SS), and Alec Bouchard (SP).
- Â The Terriers' pitching staff threw a combined 12 strikeouts in today's game, the second highest strikeouts so far this season.
- John Gray threw a game high of five strikeouts.
- Â The Terriers held UNCG to just six hits and one run.
- Cade Collins went 2-3 at the plate with one double and two RBI.
The Terriers will return to close out the series against UNCG on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m., streaming on ESPN +.
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