Wofford College Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –The Wofford baseball team dropped the regular season finale 13-3 in seven innings against Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field Saturday afternoon. The Terriers (34-20, 12-9) gave up eight unanswered runs in the first two innings against the Bulldogs (28-24, 12-9). Wofford answered back with two runs in the third and one in the fifth while holding Samford scoreless. However, the Bulldogs pulled away with five runs in the seventh inning.

Miller Alston made the start for Wofford, pitching 1.2 innings. Alston (0-2) gave up seven hits and eight runs with two strikeouts. Champ Davis, Cole Draper, Hiram Lewis, Sheldon Egger, and Corben Childers followed in relief. Niko Brini and Cade Collins contributed three hits each, with Brini scoring two runs with two RBI.

The Terriers started the ball game with back-to-back singles by Cade Collins and Niko Brini. Two quick outs followed before Lucas Manning was hit by pitch to load the bases. A strikeout left the three runners stranded. The Bulldogs scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first for a 4-0 lead. The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the second inning. Samford added four more runs on four hits in their half of the second for an 8-0 advantage.

Wofford started the third inning with a leadoff single by Cade Collins. A triple by Niko Brini drove home Collins for their first run of the game. Logan Tribble hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Brini for an 8-2 game. The Terriers held off the Bulldogs for the next inning and a half. Niko Brini started the fifth inning with a leadoff home run to right field to cut Samford's lead to 8-3. A scoreless sixth inning followed.

Cade Collins led off with a single to start it off for the Terriers in the top of the seventh. An infield single by Ben Timblin kept Wofford's scoring hopes alive, putting two runners on base with two outs. Lucas Manning was hit by pitch to load the bases for the Terriers, but a strikeout ended the scoring chance. Samford started their half of the seventh inning with a leadoff single and scored a total of five runs on four hits to end the game at 13-3.

Quick Hits:

• Starting Lineup: Cade Collins (3B), Niko Brini (CF), Logan Tribble (LF), Ben Timblin (RF), Lucas Manning (C), Marc Quarrie (DH), Hunter Herndon (1B), Tanner Hardin (2B), Brady Gold (SS), and Miller Alston (SP).
• Niko Brini has gone back-to-back years with six or more triples. Brini leads the conference and the team with seven triples so far this season.
• This is the eighth straight season Wofford has posted a winning overall record.

The No. 4 seeded Terriers begin their Southern Conference Tournament campaign on Wednesday, May 20, in Greenville, South Carolina, at Fluor Field. Wofford will face off against either No. 5 seed The Citadel or No. 8 seed VMI at 4:00 p.m., streaming on ESPN +. To buy tickets to the SoCon Tournament go to www.milb.com/greenville/tickets/collegehstickets.