The Wofford baseball team lost the series finale to Western Carolina by a score of 7-5 on May 3 at Russell C. King Field, after a ninth-inning comeback attempt was not enough to secure the win.
This game marked an important matchup for both teams, as they entered with identical records of 31-17. The loss brings Wofford’s conference record to 9-6, while Western Carolina improves to 12-6 in conference play.
Austin Laughlin started for Wofford and allowed two runs on four hits over two innings. He was followed by relievers Sheldon Egger, PJ Fitzpatrick, John Gray, Miller Alston, and Corben Childers. Ben Timblin contributed one run on two hits with one RBI for the Terriers. Niko Brini, Logan Tribble, Marc Quarrie, and Hunter Herndon also recorded hits during the game.
Western Carolina took an early lead in the second inning with back-to-back home runs. Marc Quarrie responded for Wofford in the bottom half of that inning with a solo home run. The Catamounts had a strong fourth inning where they scored five runs through singles and a double with bases loaded and capitalized further on a wild pitch. An error in left field later allowed another Terrier run but left them trailing.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Niko Brini led off with a double as part of Wofford’s rally effort. Logan Tribble hit an RBI single and Ben Timblin added an RBI double that drove home two more runs following a throwing error by Western Carolina. Despite this momentum and further efforts from Marc Quarrie and Hunter Herndon bringing it to within two runs at 7-5, Western Carolina closed out the game before Wofford could complete their comeback.
Wofford will next travel to Boiling Springs, North Carolina for their final non-conference game against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday.
