The Terriers entered last week in unfamiliar territory as for the first time in program history, Wofford was ranked in a national top 25 poll. The Baseball America College Top 25 had the Terriers ranked at #25 after sweeping UNC-Greensboro to go to 3-0 in SoCon play. Wofford also held the highest RPI of any team in the state at #32.
Both of those things remain true after another week without a loss for the Terriers. In the latest Baseball America College Top 25, Wofford is up 1 spot to #24, and their current RPI is #24. The Terriers did not have a midweek game this week, but went 3-0 over Easter Weekend at Russell C King Field, improving to 27-9 overall and 6-0 in Southern Conference play after sweeping East Tennessee State.
The Terriers got the series started on Thursday night with a 5-3 win. Matthew Marchal picked up his 2nd straight win, going 5.1 innings with 5 hits, no walks, 6 strikeouts, and 3 runs (2 earned). At the plate, Wofford was held together by the middle of their lineup, as Lawson Hill, Brennen Dorighi, and Trey Yunger combined to go 6 for 11 with 3 runs scored. Brice Martinez, Nolen Hester, and John Dempsey each tallied an RBI.
In game 2, Wofford clinched the series 13-2 behind a heck of an offensive showing from Dorman alum shortstop Jack Renwick. He went 2-4 on the night with a grand slam, a 2 run RBI single, 6 RBIs, and 3 runs scored (one of which was on a steal of home). Josh Vitus battled through 6 innings, surrendering 1 earned run and 1 unearned run on 7 hits with no walks and 5 K’s. Coulson Buchanan earned his first save of the season, working 3 shutout innings with 5 strikeouts of his own.
In the finale, the Terriers completed the sweep in similar fashion to the series opener. The middle of the Wofford order, consisting of Jack Renwick, Brennen Dorighi, and Trey Yunger combined to go 3-11 with 4 runs scored. Leadoff man Nolen Hester led the way in the RBI category with 2 driven in. On the mound, Luke Stephens picked up his first win of the season, with 2 scoreless innings in relief with no hits or walks and a K.
Of further note – Dalton Rhadans continues to be the Terriers’ most consistent late reliever. Dalton pitched 5 shutout innings in 2 appearances on the weekend, one of which went for his 8th save of the season, giving up just 3 hits with 6 strikeouts.
Tuesday night, the Terriers spring back into action as they will hit the road down to Elton Pollock Field in Clinton for a midweek contest with PC with first pitch set for 6:00 PM.
Their toughest test of the season in conference play is coming this weekend as the defending regular season SoCon champions go on the road to Macon, Ga to take on Mercer. The Bears are also undefeated at 6-0 in conference so far (31-5 overall) tied with Wofford for the top spot in the standings – by far the biggest threat to the Terriers’ hopes of repeating this year. It is sure to be a crazy series with the winner controlling their own destiny as far as winning the SoCon regular season title and getting the #1 seed in the SoCon tournament goes.
The series opens on Friday at 6:00, with game 2 slated for Saturday at 2:00, and the finale Sunday at 1:00.
