SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a game that took just over four hours and saw 26 total runs scored and 13 different pitchers used, it was the visiting Wofford Terriers that claimed a 15-11 victory over USC Upstate on Tuesday night at Harley Park.
Upstate (10-16) opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla.) scored on Luke Weber's (Spartanburg, S.C.) double to left center. Weber later scored on Tyler Miller's (Fort Mill, S.C.) single to the gap in right center.
After Wofford (14-11) scored one run in the top of the third, Upstate tacked on three more runs in the home half of the third to take a 5-1 lead. Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill.) scored when Weber delivered a sacrifice fly to center. Trey Richardson (Lakeland, Fla.) was able to easily score from third when Anthony Vacca (Fonthill, Ontario) singled up the middle. Liput scored the final run of the third when he trotted home after Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Wofford was able to cut into the Spartan lead as the Terriers added scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. After five complete innings, the Spartans owned a 6-5 lead.
The terriers were able to briefly take an 8-6 lead as they scored three runs in the sixth. The Wofford sixth was capped by a home run to left field by Landon Bennett.
The Spartans quickly answered with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead at 9-8. All three Spartan runs in the inning came on bases loaded walks by Vacca, Grason Wiggins (Statesboro, Ga.) and Green.
Wofford went ahead for good in the seventh when David Roney hit a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Clark Wise to score and put the Terriers in front 10-9.
Wofford added a single run in the eighth and four more in the ninth to take a 15-9 lead to the bottom of the ninth.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Vacca connected on a double down the right field line, allowing Richardson and Miller to score, setting the final tally at 15-11.
Wofford's Eric Eck picked up his first win of 2011 while John Cornely earned his fifth save of the season. Upstate reliever Jordan Rusk (Longwood, Fla.) was credited with the loss after pitching just 2/3 of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk.
Upstate will continue its homestand tomorrow night when they welcome the Charlotte 49ers to Harley Park for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.
