Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team scored four runs in the eighth inning to break open the game and defeat Samford 14-9 on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The game featured 31 combined hits, 26 combined runners left on base and 13 total pitchers in the first of a three-game series.
Wofford is 15-30 on the season and 8-14 in the Southern Conference. Samford is 25-19 overall and 13-8 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Kyle Behrendt with four hits and two RBIs, Mac Doyle with two hits and three RBIs and Landon Bennett with three hits and four RBIs. The Bulldogs had three hits each by Mason Meredeth and David Schulze, while Trey Hayes had three RBIs.
The Terriers opened the game with two runs in first inning as Landon Bennett and David Roney each had RBI singles. In the top of the second, Samford answered with an RBI triple by Bo Smith and a sacrifice fly from Trey Hayes to tie the game.
In the bottom of the third, Mac Doyle hit a solo home run to left center between the light poles to give the Terriers a 3-2 lead. The lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning. A double by Trey Hayes scored one run, a single by Gary Cramer added a run and a double by Michael Johnson scored two runs for a 7-3 lead.
Wofford answered in the bottom of the fourth when Clark Wise reached in a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a single by Matt Moore and scored on a wild pitch. An RBI single by Kyle Behrendt scored Moore and a walk by Landon Bennett with the bases loaded brought in a third run. The Terriers left the bases loaded, but pulled to within one run at 7-6.
Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but the Terriers left the bases loaded in their half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Wofford tied the game when Mac Doyle scored on a wild pitch. A perfectly placed bunt by Clark Wise enabled Landon Bennett to score from third and give the Terriers an 8-7 lead.
Samford tied the game in the top of the seventh when an RBI single from Trey Hayes scored one run. The Bulldogs loaded the bases, but a strikeout for the third out stranded all three runners. In the bottom of the seventh with two out, Kyle Behrendt singled and Mac Doyle was intentionally walked. A double down the left field line scored both runners and Wofford had a 10-8 lead.
In the top of the top of the eighth, Samford got one run back with a solo home run by Mason Meredeth. A single, double and walk loaded with bases, but once again a strikeout left all three runners stranded.
Wofford broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs. Clark Wise led-off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Moore. James Foster laid down a bunt that scored Wise and Foster was safe at first. Alex Lee reached on an error and then Kyle Behrendt singled on a wild play that saw Foster score on an error and give the Terriers runners at second and third. Mac Doyle cleared the bases with a single to left field for a 14-9 lead. The Bulldogs left two on base in the top of the ninth on a single and a walk.
For the Terriers, Tom Dolinak started and went six innings with seven runs allowed on eight hits with six strikeouts. Ryan Traylor, Cash Collins, Bobby Streisel, Pete Noordsy and Drew Sheridan combined for the next 1.2 innings with six hits and two runs allowed with two strikeouts. Streisel picked up the win to go to 1-2 on the season. John Cornely went the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts to get his first career save.
Samford starter Jonathan Stevens went 3.2 innings with seven hits allowed and six runs scored with two strikeouts. Michael Gunter and Mark Lewallyn went the next 1.1 with two hits, two runs and two strikeouts. Anderw Jones (4-2) had the loss with 2.1 innings of work with four hits and three runs allowed with two strikeouts. Lex Rutledge and Joshua VanFleteren combined for the final two-thirds of an inning with three runs scored on three hits.
The win was the first Friday night SoCon win of the season for Wofford. Mac Doyle hit his 16th home run of the season, which is second in the conference. The Terriers continue the three-game home series against Samford at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
