College of Charleston
Wofford
Baseball Knocks Off Wofford 8-5
4/30/2011 2:36:00 AM | Baseball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Redshirt-freshman RF Daniel Aldrich (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) hit a three-run homer and three other Cougars added multi-hit games as the College of Charleston defeated host Wofford College 8-5 Friday evening in Southern Conference action at Russell C. King Field. Charleston improves to 28-15 on the season and 12-7 in the SoCon, while Wofford falls to 19-23, 6-13 in conference play.
Charleston took an early lead in the top of the second, scoring three times with two outs. Senior DH Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C.) singled to left and senior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) followed up with a double down the right-field line, putting Epley at third. Junior 2B Rob Harding (Columbia, S.C.) cleared the bases, lining a two-run single up the middle and senior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) followed with a RBI double down the left-field line to put the Cougars up 3-0.
Wofford chipped away at the lead, scoring single runs in the second and third innings. The Terriers plated an unearned run in the second on a RBI double to left center by David Roney that scored James Foster, who reached on a throwing error by Holler. Wofford cut the Cougars' lead to one in the third as junior LHP Josh Renfro (Bradenton, Fla.) forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk to Mac Doyle.
The Cougars regained a two-run advantage in the fourth, scoring a single run for a 4-2 lead. Aldrich and Epley hit back-to-back singles to right and a sacrifice bunt by Rakar moved the runners ahead for Harding. Harding reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher and Aldrich was tagged at home, putting runners at the corners with two outs. On a steal attempt by Harding, Roney overthrew the ball into center, allowing Epley to come home from third.
Charleston extended its to 7-2 in the fifth on a three-run homer to straightaway center by Aldrich, his team-best 16th of the season. With two outs in the frame, redshirt-junior 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) and redshirt-junior LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.) each drew walks off Wofford starter Cash Collins and Aldrich a 1-0 pitch for a five-run cushion.
Wofford trimmed the Cougars' lead to 7-5 with three runs in the sixth. After a double by Foster, Josh Hyman singled up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error by Harding. Foster scored on the play and Hyman came home on a RBI single by Matt Moore. A RBI double by Alex Lee plated Moore for Wofford's third run of the inning.
A solo home run to left by Rakar with two outs in the seventh made the score 8-5 and provided the final insurance run for the Cougars. Renfro picked up his seventh win of the season, allowing five runs – four earned – on eight hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Senior RHP Casey Lucchese (Lexington, Ky.) tossed three shutout innings to earn his second save of the season. Lucchese gave up one hit and two walks, while striking out three. Epley and Holler finished with three hits apiece for the Cougars, while Aldrich and Rakar collected two hits on the night.
Collins took the loss for Wofford, giving up seven runs on nine hits in five innings.
Tomorrow's game has a 3:00 p.m. first pitch and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 910-AM with Jeff McCarragher handling the play-by-play.
