Just like our local public schools, Wofford College is on Spring Break this week. But instead of going to the beach and partying it up with friends, the Terrier baseball team took a business trip to Texas for a weekend series with the (then) #18-ranked Dallas Baptist University Patriots and a Tuesday night game at Tarleton State.
Wofford came into the Texas swing on a 6 game win streak and passed their toughest test of the season so far with flying colors, as they extended it to 8 games by taking the first 2 games to clinch the series with DBU 8-5 and 9-6 behind some good offensive work from designated hitter Brennen Dorighi, whose contributions over the weekend earned him Southern Conference player of the week honors. Over the 3 game set, Dorighi went 5 for 11 at the plate with 8 RBIs on 2 homers, a double, a bases loaded walk, and an RBI groundout with 3 runs scored.
Josh Vitus set the tone for the series on the mound with a win in a strong 5 inning shutout where he gave up 5 hits but didn’t walk a batter on Friday night, which earned SoCon Pitcher of the Week. Dalton Rhadans continued his strong work, picking up 2 more saves in the series, with an 8 out save on Friday and a normal 3 out save on Saturday.
The Terriers had their win streak snapped on Sunday in the finale 7-4, but it did not take long for them to put it behind them and get back on the horse on Tuesday night in an offensive slugfest with Tarleton State. Wofford scored 11 runs on 15 hits, including a 4 spot in extra innings to get the 11-7 W. 1st baseman John Dempsey and 2nd baseman Brice Martinez were hot, going a combined 6-10 at the dish with 6 RBIs. Wofford went with a Johnny Wholestaff approach to pitching. 8 different arms combined to strike out 11 Tarleton State hitters, but also surrendered 7 earned runs on 13 hits. Junior righty Devon Sharts earned his first win in his 4th appearance of the season with a shutout inning in the 10th.
The Terriers are now 21-9 on the season. They will finally begin SoCon play Friday night against UNC-Greensboro at Russell C King Field. The 3 game series will start at 6:00 with game 2 set for 3:00 Saturday and the finale Sunday at 1:00.
Wofford will take the midweek off following the UNC-G series and return to action again next weekend at home in SoCon play with a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. You can watch all 6 games on ESPN+, but this team is worth going out to see. Remember that all Wofford home baseball games at RCK Field are free admission, so come enjoy some good family-friendly local college baseball!
