SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Tuesday, USC Upstate jumped out to an early 7-1 lead after three innings, but failed to score again as Wofford claimed the 8-7 win in 11 innings at Russell C. King Field.
The Spartans got on the board first when Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C.) scampered home on a wild pitch by Drew Sheridan in the top of the first inning.
Wofford's Landon Bennett opened the second inning with a triple down the right field line. Bennett tied the game at 1-1 when he scored on Eric Brenk's RBI single to left field.
The Spartans opened up a 7-1 lead thanks to a six-run third inning. Trey Richardson (Lakeland, Fla.) got things started with a two-RBI single to left field, allowing Green and Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C.) to score. Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C.) reached first on a fielder's choice, which allowed Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill.) to score, putting Upstate ahead 4-1.
Luke Weber (Spartanburg, S.C.) singled up the middle and tallied two-RBI as Richardson and Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla) came around to score. Miller scored the final run of an inning when Christian Faust (Massapequa, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice.
In a span of four batters the Terriers scored four runs in the fourth inning. The Wofford rally was capped by James Foster's RBI double to left field as Julian Bridges scored the final run of the Terrier fourth.
Wofford was able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when Konstantine Diamaduros singled to the right center field gap allowing Clark Rise to score, knotting the game at 7-7.
After the sixth inning, the Spartans and Terriers didn't score until pinch hitter Josh McKinney delivered the RBI single through the right side allowing Landon Bennett to score the winning run, giving Wofford the 8-7 win.
Neither starter lasted more than four innings on Wednesday. Spartan starter Andrew Wyant (Newton, N.C.) went just 3.2 innings allowing five runs on nine hits with two strikeouts. Wofford starter Drew Sheridan went four full innings allowing seven total runs (five earned) on eight hits while striking out five.
The loss was given to Ryan Fern (Ovideo, Fla.) who tossed 99 pitches and pitched five innings. Fern allowed one run on four hits and struck out a pair. Wofford's John Cornely pitched the final 2.2 innings allowing just one hit while fanning four.
Upstate was led at the plate by Green who finished with four hits in six at-bats while scoring twice. Weber also had a solid day finishing with three hits and two RBI.
Upstate will return to action tomorrow afternoon when the Spartans make their first trip outside of the Spartanburg city limits. Upstate will travel to Boiling Springs, N.C., as they battle Gardner-Webb at 4:00 p.m.
