GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wofford's Josh Hyman's two-out, two-strike grand slam highlighted a five-run third inning and Brandon Yarusi struck out a career-high 10 batters as Wofford took the Southern Conference series opener, 7-4, over UNCG on Friday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Wofford and UNCG came into the contest looking up at Furman for the eighth and final seed for the Southern Conference Baseball Championship that starts in 12 days as UNCG trailed the Paladins by two games and the Terriers trailed the Paladins by three. The Citadel helped out both teams by blanking Furman, 7-0, but only one team would be the benefactor.
Wofford (20-29, 7-18 SoCon) used a gutsy performance by Yarusi (5-6) and patience at the plate to score a run against UNCG for the first time since 2010. Yarusi went seven strong innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while throwing 126 pitches.
UNCG (22-24, 7-18 SoCon) was unable to climb out of a four-run hole as starter Max Povse (2-5) had an odd line as he allowed five earned runs on one hit in 2 2/3 innings of work.
UNCG jumped out to an early 1-0 after Lloyd Enzor drove in Christian Wolfe, who singled, on an RBI single to left in the first.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, the Terriers' Eric Brenk drew a four-pitch walk to start the rally. Two batters later, James Foster earned a free pass after Povse issued a five-pitch walk. Matthew Pelt dropped down a perfect bunt for an RBI single to plate Wofford's first run of the evening and to tie the game at 1.
Following a strike out and another walk, Hyman dug in with the bases juiced and launched the ninth pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence for a grand slam and his second homer of the season and give the Terriers a lead they'd never relinquish, 5-1.
The Spartans' Trevor Edwards followed suit as he hit a solo shot, his 14th dinger of the year, to make it a 5-2 game in Wofford's favor after three innings of play. In the fourth, UNCG plated another run as TJ Spina collected an RBI via groundout to plate Nick Chapman.
The Terriers would plate a single run in the fifth after Konstantine Diamadurous roped an RBI double to left center to extend the lead to three, 6-3.
Both teams would plate a single run in the seventh inning as Wofford's Hyman continued to pester the Spartans by scoring on wild pitch from Corey Taylor. Senior Kris Richards drove in the games' final run as he hit an RBI single to left and to make the score 7-4.
Alex Wilson pitched two perfect innings to collect his first save on the year for Wofford. The Terriers pitching staff struck out 13 batters compared to UNCG's four.
Wolfe and Richards enjoyed multi-hit games as both went 2-for-4 on the evening. Diamadurous, Hyman, James Plaisted and David Roney all went 2-for-4 for Wofford. The Terriers' Mac Doyle saw his batting average drop from .354 to .335 after a 0-for-5 performance.
The Spartans' Cambric Moye extended his hitting streak to six games after collecting a single in the second inning.
The Spartans will look to even up the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
Wofford 7, UNCG 4 (May 11, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Wofford............. 005 010 100 - 7 9 1 (20-29, 7-18)
UNCG................ 101 100 100 - 4 8 0 (22-24, 7-18)
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Pitchers: Wofford - Brandon Yarusi; Alex Wilson(8) and David Roney. UNCG - Max Povse;
Zach Furl(3); Corey Taylor(4); Brennen James(6); Jonathan Jones(6); Wes McBride(8) and
Cambric Moye.
Win-Brandon Yarusi(5-6) Save-Alex Wilson(1) Loss-Max Povse(2-5) T-3:01 A-254
HR WOF - Josh Hyman.
HR UNCG - Trevor Edwards.
Weather: 71 degrees and beautiful
- UNCG -
