The Wofford Terriers scored twice in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead, tacking on three runs in the eighth to upend the Boston College Eagles, 8-4, on Opening Day for the 2015 college baseball season.
For BC, John Gorman threw five-and-a-third innings of four-hit baseball, allowing three runs while walking just one and striking out eight. Departing in a tie game, Gorman received a no-decision for his efforts. For Wofford, Matthew Milburn (1-0) threw six innings, allowing nine hits but just three runs, one of which was unearned. He matched Gorman's eight strikeouts while walking two to pick up the victory.
After the Eagles stranded four runners—all of whom were in scoring position, in the first two innings—the host Terriers struck for two runs in the bottom of the third. Kody Ruedisili led off the frame with a double down the right field line, and with nobody out, Gorman put runners on first and second by walking Derek Hirsch, and both moved into scoring position when lead-off hitter Alec Paradowski sacrificed them over with a bunt. Ruedisili then scored on a passed ball by catcher Nick Sciortino, and Hirsch scored when Matt Ramsay doubled him home. Gorman moved Ramsay over to third on a wild pitch but retired the next two batters to strand him at the hot corner.
BC responded right away by scoring two in the top of the fourth. Michael Strem doubled down the right field line, advancing to third when Johnny Adams flied out to right. Logan Hoggarth hit an infield single to short, scoring Strem and cutting the lead to 2-1. After Sciortino whiffed to put a second out on the board, Hoggarth stole second and scored from there when Gabriel Hernandez singled up the middle two batters later, tying the game at 2-2.
With DH Donovan Casey standing at third (he walked after Sciortino struck out and advanced to third from first on the Hernandez hit), Mike Gambino went to his bench for a pinch runner in the form of Nick Colucci. But Colucci was stranded at third when Blake Butera flew out to right.
BC manufactured a run in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead, their first of the game. After Joe Cronin struck out looking, Chris Shaw took first base by getting beaned. Strem then singled to left, but a misplay by left fielder Demetrius Jennings allowed both runners to move up one bag. Shaw then scored when Adams grounded out to second one batter later.
Jennings atoned for his error by doubling home two runs in the bottom of the sixth to give Wofford a 4-3 lead off reliever Bobby Skogsbergh. Skogsbergh entered the game with one on and one out after Ramsay struck out and James Plaisted singled to chase Gorman. After he hit Mack Nathanson, both runners came home when Jennings drilled one to right center. That caused Mike Gambino back into his bullpen for John Nicklas, who got out of the jam by retiring Conor Claney via a double play.
Wofford went to their bullpen in the top of the seventh, bringing in Connor Foltyn. Facing only one batter, he walked Shaw before being lifted for Spencer Kulman. He walked Strem to put two on and nobody out before inducing a fly out off the bat of Adams. Hoggarth grounded to second, but Wofford was unable to turn the double play, leaving runners at the corners with two out. Hoggarth stole second to both runners in scoring position, and they loaded the bases when Wofford walked Sciortino one batter later. With Colucci due up, Gambino pinch hit with Steve Sauter, but he grounded to third to retire Hoggarth via a fielder's choice.
The Terriers padded their lead with a run off of a wild pitch in the seventh, then pasted Nicklas for three runs in the eighth, including two on a double to left center by Claney. BC got out of the inning and got one back in the ninth, but the damage was done, and the Eagles lost the opener down in South Carolina, 8-4.
For the Terriers, Will Stillman was credited with his first save of the year, throwing an inning and a third of one-hit, one-run baseball to close the door. Brian Rapp made his collegiate debut for Boston College, throwing the final two-thirds of the eighth inning, striking out one and allowing just one hit.
Skogsbergh (0-1) drew the loss without ever getting an out, and Nicklas allowed four runs on four hits across two innings, striking out three and walking none.
In the lineup, BC tallied 11 hits, including a 3-for-6 night from Hernandez and a 2-for-5 night from Butera. Shaw went 0-for-2 but scored a run and drew two walks, and Hoggarth went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. On the downside, Sciortino went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, and the DH position combined for an 0-for-3 night. That said, two RBI came home on positions who didn't have a hit, with Sauter going 0-for-1 with an RBI and Johnny Adams going 0-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Plaisted went 2-for-4 for the Terriers with two runs scored, and both Jennings and Claney went 1-for-4 with a 2 RBI apiece.
The Eagles get a quick turnaround before Saturday when they play a doubleheader at USC Upstate. They'll take on Xavier at noon before playing the Spartans at 4 PM.